‘Resident Evil’ Is About to Shatter a Two-Decade Box Office Record This Weekend

Zach Cregger has had quite the run over the past few years, turning ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Weapons’ into two of the most talked-about horror releases in recent memory. Both films built their reputations on original stories and unexpected twists, which made his decision to tackle an established video game franchise for his third feature feel like a genuine curveball.

That franchise is ‘Resident Evil,’ and history hasn’t exactly been kind to its theatrical track record. Despite generating more than $1.2 billion worldwide across seven previous films, the series has never been a true box office juggernaut in North America, with 2010’s ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife’ holding the domestic opening weekend record at a modest $26.6 million.

That ceiling is about to get blown through. Deadline’s latest box office preview projects Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ to open between $40 million and $50 million domestically, with roughly $31 million more coming from overseas markets, putting the film’s global opening weekend total around $80 million on the high end.

Even under Deadline’s more conservative scenario, a $40 million domestic start would still represent a record-breaking opening for the franchise, comfortably surpassing the mark set 16 years ago. Other trackers are even more bullish, with some independent services suggesting ticket sales could climb closer to $60 million once all the numbers are in.

Some forecasts go further still. Projections cited by Global Box Office suggest the film could debut anywhere from $120 million to $150 million worldwide, a considerably higher outlook than Deadline’s more measured $80 million estimate, underscoring just how wide the range of expectations has gotten heading into opening weekend.

The film enters wide release across roughly 3,000 domestic locations, with preview screenings beginning Thursday afternoon ahead of its official Friday, September 18 opening. Reported production costs for the movie land between $75 million and $80 million depending on the outlet, a notably higher budget than Cregger’s previous features but still modest compared to many studio tentpoles chasing similar box office territory.

Much of that optimism traces directly back to Cregger’s recent history at the box office. His 2025 film ‘Weapons’ opened to $43 million domestically on a $38 million budget and went on to earn $270 million worldwide, turning into one of the year’s biggest sleeper hits and even landing an Oscar win for Amy Madigan.

‘Resident Evil’ reunites Cregger with ‘Weapons’ star Austin Abrams, who plays Bryan, a medical courier who gets pulled into a chaotic viral outbreak while making a delivery to Raccoon City. Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry, and Kali Reis round out the supporting cast, and early reviews have been strong, with critics praising the film’s departure from the franchise’s earlier entries.

The first trailer for Zach Cregger's ‘RESIDENT EVIL’ has been released.

In theaters on September 18. pic.twitter.com/eeVCAGzy6M

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 30, 2026

The stakes here are higher than they might first appear, given how uneven the franchise’s box office history has actually been. Sony’s last attempt at a ‘Resident Evil’ reboot, 2021’s ‘Welcome to Raccoon City,’ was both a critical and commercial disappointment, earning just $42 million worldwide against a $25 million budget.

Every original entry in the Paul W.S. Anderson-led series opened in the $20 million range domestically without adjusting for inflation, making Cregger’s projected debut a dramatic jump for a franchise that’s historically underperformed relative to its brand recognition. ‘Resident Evil’ is also this weekend’s only major new wide release, all but guaranteeing it the top spot at the domestic box office regardless of exactly where the final numbers land.

Theater operators are counting on the film to give the early fall box office a much-needed jolt, especially with a light release slate otherwise dominated by holdovers like ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ and ‘The Odyssey.’ A stronger-than-expected debut would also cement Cregger as a filmmaker who can reliably move audiences, whether he’s working from original material or reinventing an established IP.

Sony will find out exactly how those projections hold up once final numbers roll in this weekend, with early tracking suggesting first-day ticket sales were strong enough to push estimates even higher than initial forecasts.

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