Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ Reboot Becomes a Box Office Sensation and Continues to Climb
For over two decades, Hollywood has struggled to capture the essence of the zombie-infested Raccoon City on the big screen. The results have been mixed, with the franchise grossing over $1.2 billion collectively despite largely negative critical reviews. However, Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ is now rewriting that narrative.
The previous attempt to reboot the franchise faltered significantly. Sony’s 2021 film, ‘Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City‘, debuted with just $5.3 million and concluded its run with $41.9 million globally. This set a low benchmark that the new film has surpassed with ease.
The latest achievement came on September 29, as ‘Resident Evil’ crossed the $200 million mark worldwide, positioning it to become Zach Cregger’s highest-grossing film to date. Earlier reports indicated a total of approximately $196.4 million, making the $200 million milestone just days away.
The film’s journey began impressively, opening to $60 million domestically and $48.3 million internationally for a total of $108.3 million globally, far exceeding the projected $40 million to $50 million. This marked the largest debut in the franchise’s history and nearly matched the entire $60.1 million domestic total of ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife’.
Positive reviews contributed to its success. The film boasts a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a B+ CinemaScore, making it the highest-rated entry in the franchise. Austin Abrams plays a medical courier delivering supplies to Raccoon City General Hospital amid a zombie outbreak, diverging from the established characters in the games.
The film maintained strong performance in its second weekend, adding $27 million internationally across 65 markets, reflecting a 45% drop, which brought its overseas total to $93 million. It also became the first film in the franchise to surpass $100 million at the domestic box office.
Cregger has a knack for defying box office expectations. His breakout film ‘Barbarian’ earned $46.2 million on a mere $4.5 million budget, while ‘Weapons’ grossed $270 million globally against a $38 million budget, even winning an Oscar for Amy Madigan.
This reputation adds to the film’s appeal. Box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian remarked to the Associated Press that “Zach Cregger plus big franchise equals big bucks.” Audiences seem to agree, with 37% of the opening weekend crowd being fans of Cregger, alongside 46% being franchise enthusiasts.
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
The film still has potential for growth. To become Cregger’s biggest hit, it must surpass the $270 million earned by ‘Weapons’. To claim the title of the highest-grossing film in the franchise, it needs to exceed the $312.2 million made by ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’.
Two significant markets are yet to open. China will debut on October 5, followed by Japan on October 9. These markets contributed nearly $196 million of the $312.2 million that ‘The Final Chapter’ earned, with about $159.5 million from China and $36.5 million from Japan. While this does not guarantee similar success for the reboot, it highlights the potential that remains.
A sequel has not yet been officially confirmed. However, if the box office continues to rise, that decision may soon become straightforward.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.