‘Resident Evil’ Breaks Franchise Records in Its Third Weekend

Avatar photoValentina Kraljik
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Video game adaptations often struggle to maintain momentum after their opening weekends. Fans typically flock to theaters on the first weekend, leading to a rapid decline in audience numbers. The history of ‘Resident Evil’ has been particularly rocky, especially following Sony’s 2021 reboot, ‘Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,’ which debuted with just $5.3 million and concluded with a worldwide total of $41.9 million.

However, Zach Cregger’s version has proven to be a different narrative from the outset. It launched on September 18, raking in $60 million domestically and $108.3 million globally, marking the largest debut in the franchise’s history. The previous record for domestic openings was held by ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife,’ which earned $26.6 million in 2010.

The film’s reviews and audience ratings have also been exceptional for the series. Currently, it boasts a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated entry in the franchise and the best-reviewed video game movie on the platform, with audiences giving it a B+ CinemaScore. The production budget was $75 million.

As the third Friday has rolled in, another record has been set. Box office analyst Luiz Fernando reports that despite being the oldest film among the holdovers, ‘Resident Evil’ continues to lead at the U.S. box office, even with numerous new releases competing for attention. The R-rated adaptation earned a franchise-record $3.6 million on its third Friday, experiencing only a 48.2% drop from the previous Friday, despite losing 425 theaters.

Fernando indicates that the reboot has now reached a domestic total of $116 million, with projections for the third three-day weekend ranging from $11 million to $14 million. JoBlo’s weekend update aligns with this, estimating around $12 million, which would bring the domestic total to $124 million. This would represent a solid hold for a horror film in its third weekend.

The earlier weekends laid a strong foundation. The film earned $23.3 million in its second weekend, marking a 61% drop, and it became the first in the franchise to surpass $100 million domestically, ahead of ‘Afterlife,’ which totaled $60.1 million. Cregger’s previous film, ‘Weapons,’ concluded its domestic run with $151.5 million, and ‘Resident Evil’ is on track to exceed that.

The global performance is also impressive. The film has crossed the $200 million mark worldwide, currently sitting at approximately $202 million, with Japan’s release on October 9 and China still to come. Historically, these two markets have been the franchise’s strongest, suggesting that the final total could rival the series record of $312.2 million set by ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.’ Additionally, it needs $270 million to surpass ‘Weapons’ as Cregger’s biggest hit.

Screenshot 2026 09 18 at 08 18 54 Resident Evil 2026 Rotten Tomatoes

The film is also demonstrating its ability to compete against fresh releases. This weekend, Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger,’ Anne Hathaway’s ‘Verity,’ and Brad Pitt’s ‘Heart of the Beast’ are all vying for attention, yet the zombie reboot continues to attract audiences. Strong walk-up business and positive word of mouth have contributed to its ongoing success since its opening weekend.

Austin Abrams stars as a medical courier tasked with delivering supplies to Raccoon City General Hospital amid a zombie outbreak. Cregger, known for directing ‘Weapons’ and ‘Barbarian,’ aimed to capture the essence of the gaming experience. Based on the current numbers, it seems audiences are responding positively.

For Sony, this outcome is a welcome surprise. A $75 million reboot that opened strongly and continues to perform well is a narrative the studio could not have anticipated five years ago.

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