Director Zach Cregger Cut Jokes From Resident Evil Film After Test Screenings
Filmmaker Zach Cregger revealed that he had to reduce the comedy in his upcoming Resident Evil movie because test audiences felt it leaned too heavily into humor.
Director Zach Cregger adjusted his upcoming survival horror film, Resident Evil, by removing several jokes after initial test screenings. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Cregger explained that while audiences responded positively to the movie, they felt it was too funny. Over the course of the testing process, he stripped out as much of the humor as possible.
Cregger previously directed horror films such as Barbarian and Weapons, both of which incorporated moments of levity alongside their scares. However, bringing that same approach to the Resident Evil universe required careful balancing. While the source material features occasional quips, such as Leon Kennedy's action film style one-liners, excessive comedy can undermine the atmosphere of a horror movie.
The director noted that a small amount of humor helps provide respite for viewers during intense scenes, but too many jokes can turn a film into a gimmick. After dialing down the humor, Cregger found that audiences enjoyed the project more and he was more satisfied with the final result. Sony Pictures Entertainment is associated with the project.
Sources
- PC GamerEstablished publication · recorded Sep 11, 2026Zach Cregger had to dial down the jokes in his upcoming Resident Evil film because test screeners 'thought it was too funny'
- GamesBeatEstablished publication · recorded Sep 11, 2026NRG courts Hollywood with immersive Resident Evil event ahead of film release
- GamesRadar+Secondary publication · recorded Sep 11, 2026Resident Evil director says test audiences thought the movie was "too funny," so he toned down the humor: "There’s not a single joke I took out of this movie that I miss"