‘Resident Evil’: Breakdown of the trailer’s key moments and what to expect next
By William Muthama, May 2, 2026Sony Pictures Entertainment has officially dropped the first trailer for Resident Evil (2026), and it is already getting a lot of attention from fans.
The 1:53-minute teaser shows a darker and scarier direction for the popular franchise, focusing more on survival horror.
The trailer was released on Thursday,April 30, 2026, and shows a snow-covered and broken version of Raccoon City. The city is quiet at first, but it quickly turns into chaos after the T-virus outbreak spreads.
The story follows Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who gets trapped in the city while doing a normal delivery. His life quickly turns into a fight for survival as zombies and infected creatures take over.
One of the key moments in the trailer shows zombies falling from rooftops onto cars below, creating shocking and intense scenes. There are also quick shots of survival tools, searching for items, and the famous green herb from the game.
The trailer also shows different mutated creatures, including a large, strange monster that adds more fear to the story. The focus is not only action but also tension, fear, and survival.
What Resident Evil is
Resident Evil originally started as a video game series created by Capcom in 1996. The games are based on survival horror, where characters try to survive viral outbreaks caused by the T-virus.
The overall style of the film feels closer to classic survival horror, but it is still different from Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4.
While those games focus more on known characters and set missions, this film introduces a new character and a more grounded survival story from an ordinary person’s point of view. It also leans more into isolation and fear rather than constant action.
What to expect next
From what is shown, viewers can expect a slow and tense horror story, more focus on character survival, and a return to the classic feel of the franchise.
Early reactions from fans are positive, with many saying it looks like a true survival horror film. If the full movie follows the same direction, it could be one of the strongest Resident Evil adaptations yet.
It introduces a new storyline and new characters, making it more of a reboot-style project while still staying true to the original game universe. It is expected to be released in theaters on Friday, September 18, 2026.