The new Resident Evil movie, directed by Zach Cregger, has already achieved a significant box office milestone, earning over $9 million in U.S. Thursday previews. This figure represents a new record for the Resident Evil franchise, far exceeding the previous high of $1 million set by 2016's Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. Experts are now projecting a first weekend domestic gross between $40 million and $50 million, with the potential to exceed these estimates.
The film's Thursday preview performance also outpaced Cregger's last directorial effort, "Weapons," which garnered $5.75 million in previews and ultimately earned $43.5 million during its opening weekend. The Resident Evil movie reportedly had a production budget of $75 million, excluding marketing costs. These Thursday preview numbers are based on information from distribution sources and have not yet been officially confirmed by the studio.
Critical reception for the movie has been largely positive, with GameSpot awarding it an 8/10 and noting it as the highest-rated video game adaptation to date. Cregger has expressed interest in developing further Resident Evil films, though he has also stated his weariness with franchise work. He acknowledged that he underestimated the potential backlash from hardcore fans of the games, particularly given that his film features neither characters nor narrative elements from the established Resident Evil lore.