Resident Evil leads horror box office

Zach Cregger’s adaptation of the classic video game franchise has emerged as the top performer of the 2026 horror season. The film, released on Sept. 18, holds a 96 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. It stands as the highest-rated video game adaptation in the platform’s history. The movie combines practical effects and digital special effects to depict a lab-grown virus that turns delivery drivers into unlikely heroes.

Cregger and co-writer Shay Hatten crafted a horror-comedy that appeals to a wide audience. The story centers on Bryan, an everyday worker who navigates a zombie outbreak with relatable panic. This approach distinguishes the film from traditional high-stakes action narratives. The production has already impacted box office records for experimental hits in 2026.

Other recent releases show mixed financial and critical results. “Clayface,” which hit theaters on Oct. 23, currently holds a 77 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by James Watkins and written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, the film focuses on a Hollywood star’s descent into madness after facial surgeries. The practical prosthetics received particular attention from viewers. A University of Miami freshman named Alejandro Fiandor noted that the film treats the villain as a straightforward antagonist rather than an antihero.

“Crawlers,” released Oct. 16, sits at a 61 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film depicts a spider infestation in an apartment complex that traps its residents. Critics praised the visual effects but compared the plot unfavorably to the 2023 film “Infested.” The movie offers a straightforward survival premise for audiences seeking simple entertainment during the Halloween season.

The season also includes “Other Mommy,” which opened on Oct. 9. This psychological thriller follows an eight-year-old girl named Bela who faces an entity resembling her mother. The film relies on shape-shifting body horror to create tension. While it maintains an entertaining pace, reviewers noted inconsistencies in the plot structure. The production aims for a group viewing experience during the October holiday period.

“Verity,” adapted from Colleen Hoover’s novel, released on Oct. 2. It currently holds a 33 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. The cast includes Dakota Johnson, whose performance drew specific criticism from reviewers. The film follows a struggling writer hired to finish a book series for an injured author. Opinions on the romantic thriller remain divided among critics and audiences alike.