A terrible virus is unleashed by an evil corporation that turns humans and animals into voracious zombies: it's a plot point so popular with Americans that the Resident Evil franchise has released a fifth movie based on the premise, in theaters now. It's already leading at the box office ($21 million this weekend) and will likely remain wildly popular (it's made upwards of $100 million worldwide, per film), thanks to its star, Milla Jovovich, and its ability to crossover into horror, sci-fi, gaming, and Maxim audiences.

But its righteous storyline about protagonist Alice (Jovovich) struggling to save humanity against corporate global takeover in a near future has its own resonance. Distrust of corporations is steadily increasing around the world, according to the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer , with business distrust reaching its lowest point in 10 years.