With Zach Cregger's Resident Evil reboot just months away, fans are revisiting the franchise's past—and one of its most controversial entries is suddenly dominating streaming. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, widely considered the worst film in the series, has clawed its way back into the spotlight, ranking among Hulu's most-watched titles in the U.S. and hitting No. 1 on Sony Pictures Core in Japan.
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, who helmed four of the six original films, The Final Chapter picks up after 2012's Resident Evil: Retribution. Milla Jovovich returns as Alice, a former Umbrella Corporation employee turned rogue warrior, leading a desperate mission into the company's subterranean headquarters beneath Raccoon City. Standing in her way is the Red Queen (Ever Anderson), ready for a final battle that will decide humanity's fate.
Why Critics and Fans Hated It
Despite its streaming resurgence, The Final Chapter remains a critical and fan punching bag. Critics slammed its hyper-edited, chaotic action as mind-numbing, while fans were furious over the sidelining of beloved characters like Leon S. Kennedy and Jill Valentine. The film holds a dismal 39% critics' score and 47% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the franchise's worst-rated entry.
Yet here's the twist: The Final Chapter is also the highest-grossing film in the entire series, earning over $312 million worldwide against a modest $40 million budget. That box office success, combined with its new streaming life, proves that even the most polarizing horror can find an audience—especially when nostalgia kicks in.
A Second Life on Streaming
Exactly a decade after its release, The Final Chapter is trending on Google in Uganda and climbing charts globally. This renewed interest comes as anticipation builds for Cregger's reboot, which promises a more faithful adaptation of the video games set in a modern-day alternate history. For fans eager to compare old and new, now is the perfect time to revisit the original series—even its most maligned chapter.
If you're in the mood for more horror that's consistently delivered, check out why the Evil Dead franchise is horror's most consistent and bloody winning streak. And for another streaming sensation this July, Amazon horror 'From' becomes July's streaming sensation across multiple platforms.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is now streaming on Hulu. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more coverage of Cregger's upcoming reboot.
