Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is now available to rent or buy digitally

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil is now available to rent or purchase digitally through services like Prime Video. The film reached digital just over 45 days after its theatrical debut, and it arrives after a run that few expected from a Capcom adaptation.

Digital buyers can pick it up for $24.99. Fans who prefer physical media can preorder the film on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K. The DVD release still doesn’t have a date, so anyone waiting on that format will need to keep an eye out for an announcement.

A monstrous opening weekend

The movie opened big and kept climbing. After that first weekend, Resident Evil rose to the top of the list of highest-grossing video game movies. It has now crossed $400 million at the global box office.

The zombie flick is close to a milestone of its own. If it picks up another $30 million, it has a chance to break into the top 10 highest-grossing horror movies of all time. That kind of number would put it in rarefied company for a film built on a game franchise, and it would give Cregger a headline most genre directors never get.

Fans wanted the games, Cregger gave them a feeling

The road to that box office total was not smooth. Before the movie even opened, the conversation focused heavily on what Cregger would adapt and how closely it would follow the Capcom games. Many fans wanted a direct adaptation of familiar characters like Leon Kennedy.

Cregger later said early fan reactions made him feel like he was doing “an apology tour.” He stood by his choice anyway. Instead of adapting any specific game, he set out to capture the feeling of playing Resident Evil, and that approach is the reason the film works for both longtime players and newcomers who just want zombie action.

That choice paid off with critics too. In his review, Tom Jorgensen spoke directly to skeptical fans of the games and asked them to set their expectations aside.

“Whatever your idea of what a good Resident Evil movie should be, I have to recommend to the skeptical to put that to one side and lock in for what Zach Cregger delivers.”

Jorgensen described the result as “a jet-fueled horror experience that has room for lots of tension, some great laughs, and a strong central performance from Austin Abrams.” That combination of scares, humor, and a lead performance is a big part of why the film has held audiences.

A boost for the games themselves

The movie did more than fill theaters. It sent players back to the source material. Sales of Resident Evil 2 Remake on PS5 rose more than 50 percent in the week the film hit theaters, a clear sign that the big screen reached people who had not picked up the game in a while.

The film is also part of a strong stretch for Capcom. The company released Resident Evil Requiem and, more recently, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, both of which drew strong responses. Together, those releases have kept the franchise in the spotlight through a busy year.

What comes next for video game horror

Studios are clearly watching this box office run closely. One producer from Resident Evil has already turned his attention to a Silent Hill movie, which suggests more game-based horror is heading to cinemas and, eventually, to home screens.

Cregger said early on that his involvement in the Resident Evil franchise would end with this film. More recently, he said he would be willing to “have a hand” in future sequels, which leaves the door open. In the meantime, he is moving on to a new project of his own. He will produce an adaptation of Siren Head, an internet horror legend, following the path Kane Parsons took with Backrooms.

Where to watch it at home

For viewers who want to see the film without leaving the house, the digital route is open now. Rent or buy through services like Prime Video at $24.99 to purchase. Anyone who wants a physical copy can preorder on DVD, Blu-ray, or 4K, while the DVD date remains unannounced.