Resident Evil Box Office Surge
Resident Evil reboot nets $8.8 million in previews targeting franchise record opening.
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Key Points
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The reboot is the franchise’s second major film reboot and its eighth movie overall; the previous attempt, 2021’s “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,” was led by Kaya Scodelario and underperformed at the box office.
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Unlike the earlier films, which centered on Milla Jovovich’s Alice, the new movie features an ensemble cast including Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser alongside Austin Abrams.
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International performance could be especially important: “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” remains the franchise’s top worldwide grosser at roughly $312 million, ahead of “Afterlife,” which finished at about $300 million.
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Cregger’s reboot has faced criticism from some fans over its departure from the games’ established characters, and he reportedly removed most of the film’s jokes after test screenings.
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Early critical reaction included Variety’s assessment that the film is “different, and much better, than the other ‘Resident Evil’ movies,” helping it debut with a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Sony's "Resident Evil" reboot opened to a record Media Play News $60 million domestically, shattering the franchise's previous best debut of $26.6 million from 2010's "Resident Evil: Afterlife." The horror film earned $8.8 million in previews and played across roughly 3,500 North American theaters, powered by strong reviews and director Zach Cregger's recent track record with "Weapons," which opened to $43 million.
The reboot stars Austin Abrams and an ensemble cast navigating a viral outbreak in Raccoon City. Early critical response—including a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score—helped lift the film above its $75 million production budget in its opening weekend alone, The Wrap signaling that R-rated video game adaptations can still draw audiences at the box office.
A Fresh Start for a 24-Year-Old Franchise
The new "Resident Evil" represents the franchise's second major reboot attempt. The 2021 film "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City," led by Kaya Scodelario, underperformed at the box office. JobLo notes this weekend's $60 million opening doubles the performance of that previous attempt and proves audiences were ready for a different take on the source material.
Unlike earlier films centered on Milla Jovovich's Alice character, this reboot features an ensemble including Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser alongside Abrams. Director Cregger reportedly removed most of the film's jokes after test screenings, taking the story in a darker direction that resonated with preview audiences.
Cregger's Horror Track Record Delivers Again
Zach Cregger brought momentum from "Weapons," his recent horror hit that opened with $43.5 million and grossed roughly $270 million worldwide. WDC News 6 highlights that this "Resident Evil" debut already exceeds his previous film's opening, making it the biggest opening weekend of Cregger's directorial career.
International Markets Could Push Global Total Higher
The broader "Resident Evil" series has earned more than $1.2 billion worldwide, with previous entries performing significantly better internationally than in North America. "The Final Chapter" remains the franchise's top worldwide grosser at roughly $312 million, ahead of "Afterlife" at about $300 million domestically and worldwide combined.
International reception will be crucial for this reboot's total gross. With strong reviews and a fresh ensemble cast, the film has potential to extend the franchise's global appeal and possibly challenge earlier entries' worldwide records.
Sentiment
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Publishers
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Articles
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Reach
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