USA
ZOMBIE REVIVAL: ‘RESIDENT EVIL’ SMASHES RECORDS WITH TRANSFORMATIVE $60M OPENING: Sony Pictures’ new “Resident Evil,” directed by Zach Cregger, delivered a major box-office breakthrough over the weekend, earning an estimated $60 million in North America and $48.3 million internationally for a worldwide opening of $108.3 million. The performance marks the biggest domestic debut in the 24-year history of the horror franchise.
The reboot, which opened across 3,684 North American theaters, significantly exceeded pre-release expectations that had placed its domestic debut in the $40 million-to-$50 million range. The film also generated $8.8 million from Thursday preview screenings, setting a franchise record for previews.
The $60 million opening more than doubled the previous franchise record, held by 2010’s “Resident Evil: Afterlife,” which opened to approximately $26 million domestically. “Afterlife” remains the franchise’s previous worldwide box-office leader, with about $300 million in global ticket sales.
The new film was made on a reported $75 million production budget and represents Sony’s latest attempt to reinvent the long-running video-game property. The previous reboot, 2021’s “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,” grossed about $42 million worldwide.
Cregger, whose recent horror films “Barbarian” and “Weapons” helped establish him as a prominent filmmaker in the genre, took a different approach to the franchise. The new story stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier caught in a viral outbreak in Raccoon City. The film emphasizes survival horror, suspense and original characters while remaining connected to the mythology of the Capcom video games.
The film also benefited from strong reviews and audience response. The movie had a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score and a B+ CinemaScore, giving it some of the strongest critical and audience reception in the live-action franchise.
The success represents another strong theatrical performance for Cregger following “Weapons,” which opened to about $43 million domestically and ultimately reached approximately $270 million worldwide. Industry analyst Paul Dergarabedian told Variety that Cregger’s involvement helped make the familiar franchise feel fresh, while horror’s strong appeal among younger moviegoers has continued to support theatrical attendance.
“Resident Evil” also gave Sony a commanding position at the weekend box office. “Practical Magic 2” placed second with about $12 million in its second weekend, while “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey” followed with approximately $6.5 million and $4.9 million, respectively.
Originally launched as a video game in the 1990s, the “Resident Evil” property has become one of the most recognizable horror franchises in entertainment. The film series began in 2002 with Milla Jovovich starring as Alice and continued through several sequels before the 2021 reboot. With Cregger’s new interpretation delivering a franchise-best opening, Sony has given the property a significant new theatrical chapter.
