‘Resident Evil’ Previews Break Franchise Record As Reviews Turn Sensational

Avatar photoValentina Kraljik
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Zach Cregger has established a remarkable box office track record in modern horror over the past few years, transforming both original concepts and legacy franchises into genuine theatrical events. Following the impressive success of ‘Weapons,’ which grossed $270 million worldwide on a modest budget, all eyes turned to whether he could replicate that magic with a video game franchise that has struggled to find its footing on screen for over two decades.

Sony’s decision to entrust Cregger with ‘Resident Evil’ initially seemed risky, given the franchise’s inconsistent performance since Milla Jovovich’s original films. The 2021 reboot, ‘Welcome to Raccoon City,’ had a disastrous opening, earning just $5.3 million domestically and raising doubts about audience interest in the property.

However, those doubts appear to have been put to rest. ‘Resident Evil’ earned approximately $9 million during Thursday preview screenings, shattering the franchise’s previous preview record and boosting weekend projections to $65 million domestically, with some estimates suggesting it could go even higher.

This preview total significantly exceeds the $40 million to $50 million range most trackers had anticipated before release and dwarfs the franchise’s previous domestic opening record of $26.6 million, set by 2010’s ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife.’ Considering ‘Welcome to Raccoon City’ managed only $5.3 million during its entire opening weekend five years ago, this turnaround is truly remarkable.

The strong preview figures coincide with an equally impressive critical reception. ‘Resident Evil’ has become the highest-rated entry in the franchise’s history on Rotten Tomatoes, currently boasting a 96 percent certified fresh rating, along with the series’ best audience score at 91 percent, according to figures reported by Deadline.

That audience score comfortably surpasses the previous franchise high of 67 percent, held by the original 2002 film starring Jovovich. For a horror franchise that has historically received mixed reactions from both critics and audiences, achieving record numbers on both fronts simultaneously is a genuinely unusual accomplishment.

The film follows Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who finds himself caught in a deadly viral outbreak while attempting to make a delivery through Raccoon City. Instead of adapting a specific game entry or relying on established franchise characters, Cregger crafted an original story designed to run parallel to the games’ established lore, a choice that initially drew skepticism from longtime fans of the source material.

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

Cregger, who wrote and directed the film alongside co-writer Shay Hatten, has approached the project as a genuine fan of the games rather than previous film adaptations, having publicly stated he hasn’t watched any of the earlier ‘Resident Evil’ movies. This fresh perspective, combined with the instincts that made ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Weapons’ critical and commercial successes, seems to have resonated strongly with opening-weekend audiences.

The $75 million production also holds added significance given the competitive fall box office landscape it’s entering, arriving just one weekend after Warner Bros.’ ‘Practical Magic 2’ opened to disappointing results. With both reviews and audience reception indicating a potential sleeper hit, ‘Resident Evil’ appears poised to provide exhibitors with the late-summer boost they’ve been eagerly awaiting.

With the film not officially in wide release until Friday, these preview figures suggest ‘Resident Evil’ could significantly outperform even the most optimistic pre-release tracking. Given how thoroughly Cregger has rewritten the franchise’s box office history in just one preview night, this weekend’s full opening numbers are shaping up to be one of the most closely watched box office stories of the fall.

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