The Resident Evil box office comeback has exceeded expectations, with Zach Cregger’s reboot earning an estimated $60 million in the US and Canada and $108.3 million worldwide during its opening weekend.
LOS ANGELES: Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil has delivered a monster opening at the box office, scoring an estimated $60 million from 3,684 cinemas across the US and Canada and setting a new opening-weekend record for the long-running horror franchise.
The Resident Evil box office result comfortably exceeded pre-release expectations, which had placed the film’s North American debut between $40 million and $50 million. Internationally, the reboot added $48.3 million, pushing its worldwide opening to an impressive $108.3 million.
How Resident Evil broke its franchise record
The $60 million domestic debut more than doubled the franchise’s previous opening record. Resident Evil: Afterlife, released in 2010 and starring Milla Jovovich, had previously held the benchmark with an opening of about $26 million, without adjusting for inflation.
The new film is the eighth big-screen instalment in the franchise and arrives five years after Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. That 2021 reboot opened with $5.3 million and ultimately earned around $42 million worldwide.
Zach Cregger scores another horror hit
Written and directed by Cregger, whose previous films include Barbarian and Weapons, the latest adaptation stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier who becomes trapped in Raccoon City during a viral outbreak filled with infected creatures.
The $60 million launch also marks the biggest opening of Cregger’s directing career, surpassing the $43 million debut of Weapons. The reboot reportedly cost $75 million to produce, excluding marketing expenses.
Strong reviews give Resident Evil another boost
Positive reviews and audience reaction appear to have helped the movie outperform forecasts. The film received a B+ CinemaScore from opening-weekend audiences, while reviews have been considerably stronger than those received by several previous entries in the series.
The franchise itself stretches back to the original 2002 film starring Milla Jovovich. Its first six movies were followed by Welcome to Raccoon City in 2021 before Cregger introduced another interpretation of the Capcom survival-horror property.
Resident Evil takes No. 1 at box office
The Resident Evil box office performance was strong enough to comfortably secure first place in North America. Practical Magic 2 followed with roughly $12 million, while Spider-Man: Brand New Day placed third with $6.5 million.
With $108.3 million already generated worldwide, the reboot has given the 24-year-old movie franchise one of its strongest theatrical starts yet.
Impact to expect
The record debut could strengthen Hollywood’s appetite for video game adaptations and established horror properties, particularly when paired with filmmakers who can introduce a distinctive approach. Strong audience reception could also give Resident Evil momentum as it enters its second theatrical weekend.
