Joey Magidson
The transition that Zach Cregger has made from being an actor and comedian to a full fledged A-list filmmaker is rather stunning. Initially, Cregger was mostly known for being a founding member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U’ Know. His work in front of the camera transitioned to co-directing the comedy Miss March, but it was when he opted to take on horror that he really entered a new stratosphere. From Barbarian and Weapons to Resident Evil, he’s become a horror master and one of the genre’s most popular storytellers. To mark this moment, as he’s spoken of transitioning to different types of films next (with The Flood first up), I wanted to combine the Awards Radar Community Question with a Sunday Scaries column today. So, we’re now asking you…what is your favorite Zach Cregger movie?
In some ways, Cregger is only getting better each time out. Barbarian was his solo filmmaking debut and presented a genuine surprise for horror fans. It’s not a perfect film, but it has a lot to offer, without question. Then, with Weapons, he found a way to make an epic fright flick, one that sparked a bidding war and ended up winning his villain, played by Amy Madigan, the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Last month, he finally cracked the video game movie adaptation code with Resident Evil, which is not just a successful bit of survival horror (while being really funny), but simulates the feel of playing one of these games rather effectively.
My review of Barbarian (here) began like so:
What a joy it is to be surprised by a film. When you’re in my line of work, that doesn’t happen too often. Most of the time, you know too much, in fact. So, when circumstances dictated that I was headed to a screening of Barbarian without really any knowledge of what it was about, the possibilities were endless. Thrillingly, this movie would upend any expectations, so already going in cold provided a ridiculously good time. Funny, novel, scary, and incredibly tense, this has just about everything a genre fan could ask for. The fact that it’s deeply original as well? Well, that’s just some bloody icing on the cake.
Barbarian is a lot of fun because it’s aware of how to subvert your expectations. It’s quite impossible to guess where this one is ever going, so giving yourself over to the story is a joy. It’s like a roller coaster, zooming through its genre conventions in search of something new. For my money, this is one of the more purely enjoyable experiences I’ve had with a horror/thriller in some time.
Weapons (reviewed here) was a major step up in weight class for Cregger, as I detailed:
Only two films in, it’s time to proclaim Zach Cregger as a master of horror. Not only does the filmmaker have a very unique sensibility that he deploys in his movies, he’s able to mix comedy, horror, and genuine surprises with deft social commentary. Weapons is a far bigger scope than Barbarian, operating on a comparatively epic canvas to tell a much larger story. Barbarian may have been a bit more fun, all things considered, but Weapons a better movie overall. In fact, it’s another highlight of 2025 so far, further establishing this year as one that will go down in the record books for horror.
Weapons is a slow burn that builds to an absolutely insane and deeply satisfying climax. The juice is definitely worth the squeeze here, as Cregger masterfully plays with your emotions and expectations. The mystery is handled in such a way that regardless of what you think is happening, you’re drawn further and further in. Each new character is compelling, each WTF revelation is engaging, and by the end, you feel like you’ve seen something not just big, but original as well. Bravo to Cregger and company.
As for Resident Evil (reviewed here just last month), I said the following:
He did it. He really did it. Zach Cregger has made the first great video game movie. Now, that’s an exceptionally low bar to clear, but nevertheless, we have a legitimately strong adaptation of a game. Resident Evil has cracked the code and not just made a fun horror film, but one that understands how the game franchise is played, mimicking its escalation in the process. I have one or two things I didn’t like, and the ending fell short for me, but by and large, this is an absolute blast.
Resident Evil is Cregger’s version of the horror franchise, filled with easter eggs and love letters to the games, but telling his own story within that world. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of the games will be able to tell what he’s doing, while those who never played a second will still be treated to a wild flick. Cregger has found a way to merge the two worlds, while still making a film that has his DNA all over it. It’s actually quite an achievement, further establishing how he’s among the most exciting voices in the genre.
Now, it’s time for you to speak up. Which of Zach Cregger’s movies is your favorite? Is it Barbarian? Maybe Weapons? Perhaps it’s now Resident Evil? Wherever you fall on the Cregger spectrum, the time to tell us is now…
What is your favorite Zach Cregger film? Let us know!
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