The new live-action Resident Evil movie has significantly reduced its comedic elements after multiple test screenings. Director Zach Cregg stated that adjusting the balance between horror and comedy improved audience feedback, and he personally prefers the current version.
Based on the horror game series Resident Evil, the film is directed by Zach Cregg, who previously directed Barbarian and Weapons. The story follows the protagonist Brian, who takes on a mission to deliver medical supplies to Raccoon City, only to find himself trapped in a brutal struggle for survival.
In an interview, Cregg revealed that test screenings made the production team realize that the film's horror and comedy elements were out of balance. While some audiences enjoyed the movie, they felt it contained too much comedy.
As test screenings continued, the team removed as many jokes as possible, and audience reactions improved accordingly. Craig stated that he had no regrets about cutting any of the jokes; in his view, horror films only need a small amount of humor to achieve a noticeable effect. The film is scheduled for release on October 9, 2026.