Resident Evil Returns to Cinemas With a Terrifying New Reboot

Resident Evil is returning to the big screen with a completely new story, and this time the franchise is being rebuilt by the filmmaker behind Weapons and Barbarian.

Zach Cregger directs the new Resident Evil movie, which arrives in UK cinemas on 18 September 2026. Rather than continuing the previous film series, Sony is presenting it as a reinvention built around a fresh character and a new survival story.

Austin Abrams leads the film as Bryan, a medical courier who finds himself caught in an increasingly desperate fight for survival during what begins as a routine delivery. Sony’s official synopsis says one horrifying night rapidly collapses around him, pushing him into the middle of an outbreak filled with mutated creatures and escalating danger.

Abrams is joined by Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser. The screenplay comes from Cregger and Shay Hatten, with TriStar Pictures, Constantin Film and Davis Films behind the production.

The biggest reason this reboot stands out is Cregger himself. Barbarian became a breakout horror success, while Weapons further established him as one of the most closely watched modern horror directors. Handing him one of gaming’s best known horror properties suggests Sony is aiming for something darker and more distinctive than a routine franchise restart.

Resident Evil has already had a complicated history in cinemas. The earlier Milla Jovovich films developed their own identity away from the games, while 2021’s Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City attempted to move closer to the source material. This new version begins again with a completely separate story rather than returning to either approach.

That also means viewers do not need to have followed the previous movies before going into this one. Bryan is a new lead character and the film is being sold as a standalone entry point for audiences unfamiliar with the wider franchise.

The new trailer leans heavily into survival horror rather than straightforward action. Isolated locations, infected creatures and a growing sense that Bryan is hopelessly out of his depth give the film a much closer connection to the tension that helped make the original games so influential.

Sony has confirmed that Resident Evil will also receive an IMAX release in the UK, underlining the studio’s intention to treat it as one of September’s major horror cinema releases. The Film Distributors’ Association currently lists the movie for more than 300 UK and Ireland locations.

The film arrives at an ideal time for horror audiences, landing just as cinemas begin moving towards their autumn and Halloween schedules. It also gives fans a chance to see whether Cregger can successfully bring his own style to a franchise that has already been reinvented several times.

The official trailer is now available through Sony Pictures UK ahead of release. It gives the clearest look yet at Abrams as Bryan and the creatures he will face during the increasingly disastrous night.

Where to watch: Resident Evil arrives exclusively in UK cinemas on 18 September 2026. Sony Pictures UK has confirmed the date and the film is expected to receive a wide theatrical release.

Watch the Official Trailer:

The official Resident Evil trailer is available now through Sony Pictures UK, alongside the earlier teaser.