Video game movies have a notoriously rocky track record, and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a case study in good intentions falling short. It tried to be the faithful, atmospheric adaptation longtime fans had wanted for years — and in some ways, it succeeded. But critics and audiences largely agreed it never quite came together, setting the stage for 2026’s Zach Cregger-directed reboot.
Overview
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a 2021 horror film written and directed by Johannes Roberts, the seventh film in Constantin Film’s live-action franchise and a full reboot separate from Paul W.S. Anderson’s earlier Milla Jovovich-led series. Based on Capcom’s Resident Evil video games, it adapts the plots of the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2 into a single film, following the S.T.A.R.S. team as they uncover the horrifying secret behind the Umbrella Corporation’s collapse and the viral outbreak consuming Raccoon City.
Basic Details
| Details | Info. |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi |
| Runtime | 1 hr 47 min (107 minutes) |
| Director/Writer | Johannes Roberts |
| Based On | Resident Evil by Capcom |
| Cast | Kaya Scodelario, Hannah John-Kamen, Robbie Amell, Tom Hopper, Avan Jogia, Donal Logue, Neal McDonough |
| Release Date | November 24, 2021 (US) |
| Where to Watch | Available to rent or buy digitally (Amazon, Apple TV) |
| IMDb Rating | 5.2/10 |
| Expected Season | Standalone film — the franchise moves on to an entirely new reboot directed by Zach Cregger, releasing September 2026 |
Plot Summary
Once the thriving home of pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corporation, Raccoon City has become a dying Midwestern town after the company’s exodus — but something far more sinister is brewing beneath its streets. Chris Redfield and his sister Claire grew up in the Spencer Orphanage, once secretly run by Umbrella, and both carry old wounds from that upbringing. As Chris joins the S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team investigating strange disappearances near the abandoned Spencer Mansion, Claire returns to town chasing her own suspicions. What they uncover is a nightmare of genetic experimentation and viral contagion that’s about to turn the entire city into a battleground of the infected, forcing survivors like rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy and Umbrella employee Jill Valentine into the fight of their lives.
Why It’s Worth Knowing About
- A genuine attempt at faithfulness. Unlike the earlier Milla Jovovich films, which took heavy creative liberties, this version leans hard into recreating specific game locations, character designs, and story beats fans had wanted to see on screen for years.
- A stronger visual atmosphere than its predecessors. Some reviewers praised Johannes Roberts for channeling a moodier, John Carpenter-style horror aesthetic, favoring atmosphere and spooky set pieces over pure action.
- A committed cast, even if reception was mixed. Robbie Amell’s Chris Redfield and Tom Hopper’s Albert Wesker were frequently singled out as well-cast, even by critics who disliked the film overall.
Fair warning: this film’s reputation is genuinely rocky. Critics and fans alike have criticized it for cramming two full video games’ worth of plot into a single under-two-hour runtime, resulting in rushed pacing and thin characterization. Leon Kennedy’s portrayal proved especially divisive, with some viewers feeling he was reduced to comic relief rather than staying true to the character’s game counterpart. Several reviewers called the writing and direction weak despite decent production value, and the film underperformed at the box office relative to its predecessors. If you’re a diehard fan of the games, go in with tempered expectations rather than hoping for a faithful triumph.
Recommendations
If you’re revisiting Welcome to Raccoon City before the 2026 reboot, here’s where to go next:
- Resident Evil (2026) — Zach Cregger’s upcoming original take on the franchise, releasing September 18, 2026, with a tighter, faster-paced approach.
- Resident Evil (2002) — Paul W.S. Anderson’s original film starring Milla Jovovich, for the franchise’s more action-driven earlier era.
- 28 Days Later — For another British-directed outbreak horror film with a similarly grim, atmospheric tone.
- Silent Hill (2006) — Another video game adaptation aiming for genuine horror atmosphere over pure action.
- The Evil Within — Not a film, but a spiritual companion in tone for fans of survival horror wanting to stay in a similar mood.
Conclusion
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City deserves some credit for trying to give fans the faithful, atmospheric adaptation the games had long been owed — but ambition alone couldn’t overcome rushed pacing and uneven execution. It remains a useful watch mainly as context for how high the bar (and the skepticism) is set for Zach Cregger’s 2026 reboot, which is explicitly positioning itself as a leaner, more original answer to this film’s shortcomings.