Sony has achieved something that seemed complicated after years of ups and downs in video game cinema: relaunching Resident Evil to resounding success. The franchise's new reboot, directed by Zach Cregger, debuted at the U.S. box office with $60 million, a figure that far exceeds the distributor's expectations and marks a turning point for the saga on the big screen.
The release carries special significance because it arrives during a September marked by weak box office performance in the United States, where several recent releases had failed to take off. In this context, Resident Evil's performance becomes the industry's big news of the week and a sign that audiences are still responding to well-executed horror.
A Reboot That Breaks from the Milla Jovovich Era
This new chapter of Resident Evil leaves behind the saga led by Milla Jovovich and its interconnected storylines across multiple films. Instead, Zach Cregger, known for the acclaimed film Weapons, has opted for a much scarier and more impersonal approach, moving away from previous formulas.
The change in direction seems to have won over both critics and audiences. The film earned a B+ grade on CinemaScore, and the predominant audience profile during its opening weekend was mostly young and male, a common trend for horror productions aimed at a more specific audience.
Numbers That Exceed All Projections
According to box office data, Sony had been steadily raising its expectations for the release, which originally stood at around $40 million. The final figure, $60 million in the U.S. alone, represents a significant jump from those initial projections.
Including the international market, Resident Evil reaches a global debut of $108.3 million. This is an especially positive result considering the film has a budget of around $80 million, which points to a quick return on investment for the studio.
The Best Opening in the Entire Saga
The new film manages, in its first weekend alone, to nearly match the total gross of Resident Evil 4: Ultratumba, until now the franchise's most successful theatrical installment. This makes the reboot the best opening weekend of any Resident Evil film to date.
For Zach Cregger, this release also marks a personal milestone: it's his best box office debut, further solidifying a career that so far has not seen any major commercial failures.
The Rest of the U.S. Box Office Top 10
Practical Magic 2 Fades in Its Second Week
In second place is Practical Magic 2, starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock, which dropped 59.5% in its second weekend compared to its opening, earning $12.1 million. The Warner film has now accumulated $50 million in the United States, though its international performance has been more modest, at $26.8 million, for a global total of $76.8 million.
Spider-Man and The Odyssey Remain Strong After Weeks in Theaters
Third and fourth place go to two titles that have been holding steady in theaters for several weeks. Spider-Man: Brand New Day added another $6.5 million in its eighth week, reaching $944 million in the United States and $2.478 billion worldwide, keeping it as the third highest-grossing film in history.
Meanwhile, The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's film, added $4.9 million in its tenth week, with a total of $609 million in the United States and $1.721 billion worldwide. The film has climbed to eleventh place on the all-time highest-grossing list, though it would still need to add $145 million more to break into the global top 10, a goal that looks increasingly difficult at this stage of its run.
Coyote vs. Acme Solidifies Its Comeback
In fifth place is Coyote vs. Acme, the project that was once shelved by Warner and eventually sold to Ketchup Entertainment for $50 million. The film added another $4.5 million this week, reaching $54 million in the United States and $79.8 million worldwide, reasonable numbers given its $70 million budget.
New Releases and Re-releases Round Out the List
Runner, in its second week, dropped 50.8% with $3.1 million, bringing its total to $11.98 million. In seventh place, Daniel debuts, a faith-based film starring Mena Massoud, known for playing Aladdin in Disney's live-action adaptation. The film earned $3.14 million across 1,525 theaters, a solid result within its genre.
Eighth place goes to the re-release of The Transformers: The Movie, the 1986 animated film that returned to theaters for its 40th anniversary, earning $3.1 million. In ninth place, the independent production The Weight debuts, starring Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe, with $2.3 million. Rounding out the top 10 is the horror film Buddy, which added $1.9 million in its fourth week, for a total of $24.8 million in the United States, with no international earnings reported so far.
What to Expect at Next Week’s Box Office
The U.S. box office will welcome several new releases in the coming days that, in principle, fall within a mid-range level of expectations. Among them are Primetime, starring Robert Pattinson, and In the Heart of the Beast, Brad Pitt's new project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directs the Resident Evil reboot?The new version is directed by Zach Cregger, a filmmaker who gained widespread recognition thanks to the film Weapons.
How much did Resident Evil earn on its U.S. opening weekend?The film debuted with $60 million at the U.S. box office during its opening weekend.
How much has Resident Evil earned worldwide?Including the international market, the film reached a total of $108.3 million in its global debut.
What was the film's budget?This reboot's budget stands at around $80 million, according to available data.
What rating did the film get on CinemaScore?Audiences gave it a B+ on CinemaScore, a positive score within the horror genre.
Is this the best opening in the entire Resident Evil saga?Yes, it's the best box office debut of any film in the franchise to date, even surpassing the initial numbers of Resident Evil 4: Ultratumba.
What other films stand out at the box office this week?Among the most notable titles are Practical Magic 2, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and Coyote vs. Acme.
