Box Office: ‘Resident Evil’ Breaks Franchise Records With $60 Million Opening Weekend

Zach Cregger's Resident Evil has surpassed expectations, raking in an estimated $108.3 million globally during its opening weekend. The horror-comedy grossed $60 million domestically and $48.3 million internationally, marking a significant achievement and proving to be a franchise-best opening. Originally starring Austin Abrams as the character Bryan, the film not only secured Cregger's biggest debut but also placed it among his top successes.

Previous works, such as Barbarian ($10 million) and Weapons ($70 million), have also demonstrated Cregger's talent. Additionally, the cast features appearances by Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. Factors contributing to the film's success include its focus on survival horror gameplay elements, the positive reception of its heavy-hitting director, and the strong fanbase eager for a Resident Evil movie that pays homage to the franchise.

Despite facing some backlash and concerns about changes to the source material, Resident Evil has firmly defied predictions, becoming the highest-rated video game movie on Rotten Tomatoes and earning an 8/10 review from IGN. The domestic top five in box office revenue includes Resident Evil in first place, followed by Practical Magic, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, and Coyote vs. Acme.

Sony's estimated production cost for Resident Evil was $75 million, and the film's strong start suggests a promising return of the franchise to theaters.