‘Resident Evil’ Breaks Box Office Records Thanks to Zach Cregger
For two decades, the box office journey of ‘Resident Evil’ has been marked by declining returns. The film franchise continued to stagger along long after critics lost interest. None of the previous films achieved a “fresh” rating, and the last reboot attempt faded away almost immediately. Sony clearly required a new strategy.
This new direction was spearheaded by Zach Cregger, the writer-director known for ‘Barbarian’ and the Oscar-winning ‘Weapons.’ His interpretation of Capcom’s survival horror series does not focus on specific game characters or narratives but instead aims to evoke the experience of playing the games. The film centers on a medical courier caught in a deadly viral outbreak in Raccoon City, a choice that excited some fans while alienating others.
Now that the opening weekend figures are in, they are impressive. Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ is projected to have opened with $60M domestically, setting a record for the franchise. This makes it the largest opening for ‘Resident Evil’ ever in North America.
Sony’s own forecasts were much more conservative. The studio initially anticipated a three-day debut of around $40M from approximately 3,500 theaters. Instead, the film grossed $26.3M on Friday alone, which included $8.8M from Thursday previews.
The previous franchise high now pales in comparison. ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife’ opened to $26M over an entire weekend back in 2010. Cregger’s film nearly matched that in just one day. The most recent entry, ‘Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,’ debuted with only $5.3M in November 2021.
The outcome also surpasses Cregger’s own previous achievements. ‘Weapons’ opened to $43M last August and concluded with $270M worldwide on a $38M budget. The new film has a $75M production budget, so it is already well on its way to recouping its costs domestically.
The context of September is also noteworthy. This debut ranks 7th among September openings, ahead of ‘The Nun’ at $53.8M, while last year’s ‘Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle’ opened to $70.6M. Deadline also pointed out that it is one of only two major studio horror releases this fall, alongside Universal’s ‘Other Mommy’ from Rob Savage, which arrives on Oct. 9.
Positive word of mouth has played a significant role in the film’s breakout success. It boasts a 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 92% audience score, making it the highest-reviewed horror release of the year. It also received a B+ CinemaScore, the best in the franchise’s history.
The contrast with earlier entries is stark. The original from 2002 holds a 36% rating, and ‘Welcome to Raccoon City’ sits at 30%. Even the highest-rated earlier film, ‘The Final Chapter,’ only reached 39%, while Cregger’s version surpasses ‘The Odyssey’ (94), ‘Toy Story 5’ (93), and ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ (90). Bloody Disgusting even labeled it the best-reviewed video game movie across all genres.
The first trailer for Zach Cregger’s ‘RESIDENT EVIL’ has been released.
In theaters on September 18. pic.twitter.com/eeVCAGzy6M
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 30, 2026
Not every review has been glowing. The A.V. Club commended Austin Abrams and the film’s “bad day on the job” concept but felt the momentum faltered once the narrative expanded into Raccoon City. However, such mixed feedback is unlikely to hinder a performance this robust.
Abrams leads a cast that includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. The film was also the only major new wide release this weekend, allowing it ample space to dominate. ‘Practical Magic 2’ secured second place in its second week, while ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ and ‘The Odyssey’ remained near the top of the Friday chart.
Studio estimates may change when final Monday numbers are released. Nevertheless, this weekend has transformed the conversation surrounding a franchise that many had dismissed. Cregger’s game-inspired venture has triumphed with critics, audiences, and at the box office.
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