Zach Cregger's 'Resident Evil' Reboot Shatters Franchise Records with $108M Global Debut

Key points

• The film grossed $108.3 million worldwide, with $60 million from domestic theaters and $48.3 million from international markets.
• This opening weekend total exceeds the entire theatrical run of the 2002 'Resident Evil' film, which earned just under $103 million.
• The film has a production budget of $75 million and is projected to be highly profitable for Sony, TriStar, and Constantin Film.
• Cregger’s success follows his previous hits 'Barbarian' and 'Weapons', with the latter earning $270 million against a $38 million budget.
• The film received a 96% critics score and a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest audience score in the franchise’s history.

Background

The 'Resident Evil' franchise had struggled in recent years, with the 2021 film 'Welcome to Raccoon City' underperforming and a Netflix series being cancelled in 2022. Cregger was hired for this reboot between the releases of 'Barbarian' and 'Weapons', a period when he was already showing promise but before his market value had peaked. This new film aims to reinvigorate the series by offering a more authentic adaptation of the Capcom video game, a departure from the previous Milla Jovovich-led entries.

How outlets are covering it

IndieWire emphasizes the financial milestone, noting that the new film’s opening weekend surpassed the total run of the 2002 original, and highlights Cregger’s rising status as a director whose name alone can greenlight projects. Deadline focuses on the record-breaking preview numbers, noting that the film’s Friday and preview sales of $8-9 million far exceeded previous franchise highs and even outperformed Cregger’s 'Weapons' and 'Scream 7'. Variety provides a behind-the-scenes perspective, detailing Austin Abrams’ physical transformation and the practical effects used for his monster role, as well as the film’s original plot involving a medical courier in Raccoon City. All sources agree on the film’s commercial and critical success, but IndieWire and Deadline focus on the box office impact, while Variety highlights the production and performance details.

Why it matters

The success of 'Resident Evil' demonstrates the viability of video game adaptations when they are faithful to the source material and directed by a talent with a strong track record in horror. It also signals a potential revival of the franchise, with a sequel now considered inevitable. For Cregger, this performance cements his position as one of Hollywood’s most powerful directors, likely increasing his market value for future projects.

What to watch

Sony and its partners are expected to announce plans for a sequel to 'Resident Evil' given the film's strong performance. Cregger is likely to be in high demand for future projects, and Austin Abrams may see increased opportunities as a leading actor in horror and action genres. The film's success may also influence how studios approach adaptations of other video game franchises, prioritizing faithfulness to the source material and strong directorial vision.