Zach Cregger's new Resident Evil film has achieved an estimated global box office opening of $108.3 million, exceeding earlier projections. The horror-comedy hybrid secured $60 million domestically and $48.3 million internationally, significantly outperforming the $40-$50 million domestic opening that had been anticipated.
This debut marks the most successful opening weekend for any Resident Evil film and represents director Zach Cregger's largest opening to date. His previous directorial efforts include Barbarian, which earned $10 million in its opening weekend, and Weapons, which achieved $70 million.
The film stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, an original character navigating Raccoon City, and features supporting performances from Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser.
This strong box office performance is attributed to several factors. Unlike previous Milla Jovovich-led films that often deviated from the source material, Cregger's Resident Evil reportedly draws inspiration from survival horror gameplay. This approach, combined with fan dissatisfaction over the reception of 2021's Welcome to Raccoon City, which was criticized for its superficial nods to the games, has seemingly resonated with audiences eager for a more faithful adaptation.
Despite facing some backlash and fan concerns regarding deviations from the games, such as the absence of familiar characters like Leon S. Kennedy and the T-Virus, and a more modern, snowy setting for Raccoon City, the film has ultimately defied expectations. Following its opening weekend, Resident Evil has also been recognized as the highest-rated video game movie of all time on Rotten Tomatoes, with IGN awarding it an 8/10 review that praised its "simple and exciting survival horror story."
The movie, which had a production budget of approximately $75 million according to Variety, has made a strong return for the franchise in theaters. In terms of the domestic box office, Resident Evil claimed the top spot, followed by Practical Magic, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, and Coyote vs. Acme.