‘Resident Evil’ Previews Shatter Franchise Record As Reviews Turn Sensational

Zach Cregger has built one of the most enviable box office track records in modern horror over just the past few years, turning both original concepts and now a legacy franchise into genuine theatrical events. Following the massive success of ‘Weapons,’ which grossed $270 million worldwide against a modest budget, all eyes turned to whether he could work the same magic on a video game franchise that had struggled to find its footing on screen for over two decades.

Sony’s decision to hand Cregger the keys to ‘Resident Evil’ initially carried real risk, given how inconsistently the franchise had performed since Milla Jovovich’s original run of films. The 2021 reboot attempt, ‘Welcome to Raccoon City,’ had bombed spectacularly, opening to just $5.3 million domestically and casting real doubt on whether audiences still had appetite for the property.

Those doubts appear to have been thoroughly put to rest. ‘Resident Evil’ pulled in roughly $9 million during Thursday preview screenings, shattering the franchise’s previous preview record and pushing the weekend projection up to $65 million domestically, with some estimates suggesting it could climb even higher.

Looks like $9M previews for #ResidentEvil. Initial audience reception is superb. Expecting strong play over the weekend to reach $65M. pic.twitter.com/ozJdzg6bDs

— ਜਤਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ (@Itsjat32) September 18, 2026

That preview haul comfortably clears the $40 million to $50 million range most trackers had projected heading into release, and it dwarfs the franchise’s previous domestic opening record of $26.6 million, set by 2010’s ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife.’ Given that ‘Welcome to Raccoon City’ managed just $5.3 million in its entire opening weekend five years ago, the scale of this turnaround is genuinely remarkable.

The strong preview numbers have arrived alongside an equally impressive critical reception. ‘Resident Evil’ has become the highest-rated entry in the franchise’s history on Rotten Tomatoes, currently sitting at 96 percent certified fresh, while also posting the series’ best audience score at 91 percent, according to figures reported by Deadline.

That audience score comfortably surpasses the previous franchise high of 67 percent, held by the original 2002 film starring Jovovich. For a horror franchise that’s historically drawn a mixed reception from both critics and moviegoers alike, posting record numbers on both fronts simultaneously represents a genuinely unusual achievement.

The film follows Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who finds himself caught in the middle of a deadly viral outbreak while attempting to make a delivery through Raccoon City. Rather than adapting a specific game entry or leaning on established franchise characters, Cregger built an original story designed to run parallel to the games’ established lore, a choice that initially drew some skepticism from longtime fans of the source material.

Cregger, who wrote and directed the film alongside co-writer Shay Hatten, has been open about approaching the project as a genuine fan of the games rather than the previous film adaptations, having publicly stated he hasn’t actually seen any of the earlier ‘Resident Evil’ movies. That fresh perspective, paired with the same instincts that made ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Weapons’ such critical and commercial successes, appears to have resonated strongly with opening-weekend audiences.

The $75 million production also carries added significance given the competitive fall box office landscape it’s entering, arriving one weekend after Warner Bros.’ ‘Practical Magic 2’ opened to a disappointing start. With reviews and audience reception both pointing toward a genuine sleeper hit, ‘Resident Evil’ looks positioned to give exhibitors exactly the kind of late-summer boost they’ve been waiting for.

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

With the film not even officially in wide release until Friday, these preview numbers suggest ‘Resident Evil’ could end up significantly outperforming even the most optimistic pre-release tracking. Given how thoroughly Cregger has already rewritten the franchise’s box office history within a single preview night, this weekend’s full opening numbers are shaping up to be one of the more closely watched box office stories of the fall.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.