Hideo Kojima Praises Zach Cregger's Resident Evil Film

Hideo Kojima has publicly praised Zach Cregger's new Resident Evil film, drawing a direct line to the visceral experience of playing the original game. The Metal Gear and Death Stranding creator shared his thoughts on X, formerly Twitter, on October 12, 2026, stating the movie captured the authentic feel of the 1996 PlayStation title.

Kojima admitted he wasn't particularly interested at first but went to see it because it was Cregger's latest film. He described an immediate, intense impact. Right from the opening, it hits you with music reminiscent of 'The Thing.' From there, it’s a relentless barrage of classic horror techniques, terrifying situations, and jump scares that never lets up until the very end. Kojima's personal connection was profound. He compared himself to the film's new protagonist, Bryan, recalling his own early struggles with the game. "It reminded me of how I felt when I first played the original Resident Evil on PlayStation back in 1996," Kojima said. "I was just like Bryan in this movie. I kept getting game over after game over."

His central verdict was clear. This isn’t a film adaptation of Resident Evil, Kojima stated. It’s a film about the experience of playing Resident Evil, controller in hand.

Critical and audience reception

The film, released to theaters last month, has been met with widespread acclaim. More than one reviewer has called it the best video game movie ever made. IGN India scored it 8/10, describing the production as the rare video game adaptation that understands the strange logic that makes the games so much fun. This reception positions it as a standout in the often-troubled genre of game-to-film translations.

Context within the franchise and filmmaker's career

Cregger's film tells an original story within Capcom's iconic horror universe, introducing a new hero named Bryan. The project has become a significant commercial milestone. It has earned $320,438,566 worldwide, making it Cregger's highest-grossing movie to date and surpassing his previous hit, 'Weapons'. The film's performance in specific markets shows its global reach.

Kojima's broader engagement with media

Kojima's review is part of his ongoing cultural commentary. He has recently shared thoughts on other media, including The Odyssey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the Backrooms phenomenon. He also mentioned being happy to pick up a program for 'Digger', indicating his wide-ranging interests.