Resident Evil (2026) Easter Eggs Only True Fans Noticed

Zach Cregger's "Resident Evil" is a bloody, chaotic good time, and before its ending reveals just who survives Raccoon City, it also includes plenty of winks and nods at the fans of the franchise. Watch Looper's video above to find out more about all the Easter eggs and surprises in the 2026 "Resident Evil" movie.

Though the movie tells an original story and its hero — the hapless yet relentlessly entertaining medical courier Bryan, portrayed note-perfectly by Austin Abrams — is far from your typical video game protagonist, details and tropes from the long-running Resident Evil franchise are scattered everywhere. In fact, Bryan even comments on some of the most absurd ones, such as the omnipresent and seemingly unconquerable padlocks that secure the routes he needs to take to survive. It's a clever way to make the film's story mesh with the greater franchise, and an outright amazing trick when it comes to pulling the lore-savvy viewer deeper into the story. 

There's been a lot of horror buzz around "Barbarian" and "Weapons" director Cregger, to the point that rumors have been swirling about fellow genre great Jordan Peele firing his team after losing "Weapons." Combining the meticulous director with a video game franchise as rife with lore and well-known gameplay elements as Resident Evil is a perfect combination for fans who like to hunt for Easter eggs.

Cregger's knowledge of the source material's finer details — and, more importantly, when and how to use them — is evident throughout the movie. Because of all the references to the franchise's big and small elements, "Resident Evil" can focus on an original story that's effectively about an average guy who gets dropped in the middle of the most horrific aspects of the franchise. The end result is truly effective. Be sure to watch Looper's video above to keep tabs on all the "Resident Evil" Easter eggs surrounding Bryan during the worst hours of his life. 

"Resident Evil" is now in theaters.