Resident Evil reboot runtime finally revealed as Zach Cregger’s vision creeps toward release

Your odds of getting out of Raccoon City alive are officially a bit shorter than you might expect. Sony have now slapped a runtime on Zach Cregger's Resident Evil reboot, and let's just say, it's not what we're used to from a franchise that tends to sprawl.

Quick and (Presumably) Deadly

According to AMC Theatres, Cregger's new take on the Resident Evil saga comes in at a lean 1 hour and 35 minutes. No, that's not a typo. One hour and thirty-five minutes. For a series that's infamous for labyrinthine plots and endless corridors, this is practically a sprint.

Don't crack open the popcorn just yet, though—tickets haven't gone on sale at the time of writing, but you can set up alerts for when pre-orders launch ahead of the film's September release. Just in case you're the sort who starts planning your snacks six months in advance.

A Different Kind of Zombie Outbreak

If you're expecting the usual horde of shuffling nasties and a reel-by-reel rehash of classic Resident Evil storylines, you're in for a curveball. Zach Cregger has said upfront: fewer zombies this time, and not the typical cast of characters.

Instead, the film chases Austin Abrams as Bryan, an original character dropped into a nightmare night in Raccoon City. Cregger explained back in April (in a chat with PlayStation, for those keeping score at home) that he's going for something sharper, all about forward momentum. In his words:

'You go on this crazy journey, and you go through all these different environments, and things just seem to be escalating and escalating. That feels so cinematic to me.'

He doubled down: Bryan's trek is a straight shot from point A to point B—none of your ensemble marathons through an Umbrella lab here. The idea is to keep it all laser-focused, following one ordinary bloke with a mission on the very worst night imaginable.

Early Screenings: Breathless Stuff

The short runtime isn't just a number on a webpage—apparently, it actually reflects the pace. Early test audiences who've seen advance screenings called it a relentless 'all gas, no brakes' kind of ride. For the horror nerds, some have even thrown around comparisons to 'Fury Road', but with fewer muscle cars and presumably, more mutant dogs.

In Brief: What's New, What's Familiar

• Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes (official, via AMC Theatres)
• Main character: Bryan, played by Austin Abrams—a brand new face, not pulled from the games
• Zombies: Fewer than you'd expect; this is about survival, not mass carnage
• Direction: Zach Cregger, aiming for tight, escalating tension rather than the usual multi-thread Resident Evil chaos
• Release: Tickets coming soon, with the film set to hit cinemas in September

For purists, don't panic—Cregger has also teased that there will be proper Easter eggs sprinkled throughout for anyone who's played through the games once (or twelve times). Just don't walk in expecting a by-the-numbers remake of any particular Resident Evil entry.