Meet the ‘new Tarantino’ — fans say it’s Zach Cregger after his near‑perfect Resident Evil

There are plenty of ways to gamble in Hollywood, but Zach Cregger betting his reputation on a Resident Evil reboot definitely raised a few eyebrows. He’s been the darling of modern horror for a couple of years now—first with Barbarian in 2022, then Weapons in 2025, both absolutely smashing it at the box office. Cutting to the chase: Cregger knows his way around a scary story, but even so, fans of the Resident Evil games aren’t exactly forgiving when it comes to film adaptations. So, as you might expect, more than a few people were ready to sharpen their pitchforks if he cocked it up.

With the new Resident Evil film just a day off its cinema debut (18 September 2026), the early word is overwhelmingly positive—so much so, there’s now a full-blown arms race on social media to see who can compare Cregger to the biggest names in film history the fastest. And, to be fair, it’s not every day a horror director rolls three successes in a row without stumbling.

Resident Evil debuted on Rotten Tomatoes at 96%, making it the highest-rated video game adaptation ever on the site.

Ranking Cregger among the Greats?

Cregger’s sudden elevation to cinema’s top shelf has caused no shortage of hot takes. One X (formerly Twitter) user chucked comparisons to Tarantino into the mix, saying they couldn’t remember the last time a director had three back-to-back hits right out of the gate. The claim instantly triggered a name-dropping contest. People tossed Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, Robert Eggers, and Ryan Coogler into the debate. A lot of virtual ink went to Jordan Peele, who also had his own strong three-film sprint with Get Out, Us, and Nope. The mood among fans is that Cregger’s on exactly the sort of legendary run that critics expected from Peele after that explosive debut.

Not everyone’s definition of a 'cinematic banger' matches up, but it’s pretty undeniable that Cregger has swung for the fences with Resident Evil—and what’s more surprising is how much the audience seems to agree. The film’s currently holding on to a stonking 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which not only edges out the previous record-holder Exit 8 (2025), but sets a new high water mark for game-to-film adaptations. You can't accuse horror diehards of being an easy crowd, but this time, they've been near-unanimous in their praise. Early viewers have even dubbed it a game-changer for the series, not something you hear often in this territory.

Why the Hype Feels Earned

According to MovieWeb’s own Julian Roman, the film’s a 'near-perfect movie', especially applauding Cregger’s knack for weaving in game mechanics in a way that works on screen. The other big talking point is Austin Abrams, absolutely stealing the spotlight as the hapless medical courier Bryan. Everyone seems agreed: if you’re going to adapt Resident Evil, you might as well swing for the rafters, and Cregger has come frighteningly close to pulling off the impossible.

The box office predictions are already flirting with record figures, which means a sequel is virtually a foregone conclusion, whether Cregger’s steering the ship or not. The man himself has been upfront with fans since day one—he wanted to make a film that would both satisfy his own vision and pay tribute to long-time Resident Evil devotees. But he’s also made it clear there’s no plan to park himself in Raccoon City for the rest of his career. Next stop for Cregger is his all-new sci-fi project The Flood. Interestingly, though, he’s admitted he’s already got a stack of ideas for another Resident Evil instalment just in case. Judging by the early reaction, producers will be sending him every herb and typewriter they can find to get him back.