‘Resident Evil’ Set for Record-Breaking Opening Weekend at the Box Office

Laura Bais
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The fall box office has been in need of a boost for weeks, and horror enthusiasts have eagerly anticipated this weekend for months. Zach Cregger’s reimagining of the ‘Resident Evil’ franchise hits theaters, carrying the legacy of a 24-year-old video game adaptation and the momentum of one of the most praised directors in the genre.

This momentum has been steadily increasing since reviews were released earlier this week, with critics labeling it the best-reviewed installment in the franchise’s history. Coupled with Cregger’s reputation among horror fans, industry experts have been raising their projections for how significant this opening weekend could be.

Current tracking indicates that ‘Resident Evil’ is on track for a domestic opening around $58.5 million, a figure that would easily surpass the franchise’s previous best debut. Following it, ‘Practical Magic 2’ is expected to earn approximately $11.8 million in its second weekend, while ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is projected to finish third with an estimated $5.3 million as it continues its record-setting domestic run.

To put this potential opening into perspective, the current record for the ‘Resident Evil’ series is held by 2010’s ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife,’ which opened to $26.65 million during the post-‘Avatar’ 3D boom. Even the more conservative projections this week, ranging from $40 million to $50 million, would still mark a significant new high for the franchise, while a figure above $58 million would nearly double the previous record.

Sony has released the film in about 3,500 theaters, supported by a $75 million production budget for Cregger’s reboot vision. Industry analysts attribute the film’s strong buzz to its departure from the established Milla Jovovich continuity, focusing instead on an original protagonist, a medical courier caught in an outbreak, rather than relying on returning characters or established game lore.

The outlook is less favorable for last week’s major new release. ‘Practical Magic 2’ debuted with a softer-than-expected performance, landing in the $28 to $30 million range instead of the anticipated $40 million opening. Mixed reviews, reportedly in the high-30s percentage range, have been cited as a reason for the film’s limited appeal beyond its core older female audience, despite the addition of stars like Joey King and Maisie Williams.

With word-of-mouth still uncertain, the sequel is projected to drop between 50% and 60% in its second weekend, aligning closely with current tracking figures. Such a decline would place ‘Practical Magic 2’ on track for a domestic total around $100 million, which is respectable but far from the breakout numbers the studio likely anticipated.

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

Meanwhile, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ continues to perform well at the box office, remaining a top contender even weeks into its release, reflecting its status as the highest-grossing movie of all time domestically. Other holdovers like ‘The Odyssey’ are also expected to maintain their positions, even as the box office landscape shifts to accommodate the arrival of ‘Resident Evil.’

This weekend is otherwise light on new wide releases, meaning the primary box office narrative will focus on how high ‘Resident Evil’ can climb once final numbers are reported. With the fall season gearing up for a busy next weekend with several new releases, this could be the last calm stretch before the marketplace becomes more competitive.

For now, all indicators suggest that ‘Resident Evil’ is poised to deliver not only a win for Sony but also a historic weekend for a franchise that has been seeking this level of box office success for over two decades.

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