‘Resident Evil’ Reboot Is Crushing Box Office Expectations Right Out of the Gate
Video game movies have had a rough reputation to shake off for years, plagued by rushed productions and stories that rarely satisfied longtime fans. Zach Cregger’s new take on ‘Resident Evil’ looked like it might be the exception heading into release weekend, and the early numbers suggest that bet is paying off in a big way.
The reboot arrived in theaters carrying a modest $75 million budget, a relatively conservative number for a franchise built around zombie outbreaks and large-scale horror set pieces. Early tracking suggested a solid opening, but nobody quite expected what happened once audiences actually showed up.
The film is now overperforming at the box office and could open with more than $100 million globally, according to industry trackers watching the weekend rollout. That kind of result would represent the largest opening in the franchise’s history, a franchise that has produced several installments over the past two decades.
‘RESIDENT EVIL’ is over performing at the box office and could open with +$100M globally.
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) September 18, 2026
Budget was $75M.
Read our review: https://t.co/yRPrexwkaO pic.twitter.com/5s0WPaIA5B
Rather than retelling one of the games directly, Cregger built an original story following Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who gets caught delivering to Raccoon City General Hospital just as a viral outbreak erupts. The film unfolds on what Cregger has described as the periphery of the events depicted in ‘Resident Evil 2,’ set in a contemporary alternate timeline rather than a direct game adaptation.
Cregger, known for directing ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Weapons,’ was upfront about avoiding a retread of familiar game storylines before the film ever hit theaters. “I’m not going to tell Leon’s story, because Leon’s story is told in the games. [Fans] already have that,” he explained to Inverse. He added that his approach still respects the source material closely, saying, “I am the biggest worshiper of the games, so I’m telling a story that is a love letter to the games and follows the rules of the games.”
The commercial momentum has been backed up by an unusually strong critical response as well. The film currently holds an impressive 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes from more than 160 reviews, alongside a 92% audience score built on over 1,000 verified ratings.
Critics have praised the tight pacing throughout the film’s lean 90-minute runtime, with some going as far as calling it one of the best video game adaptations ever made. That combination of critical acclaim and box office strength is rare for the genre, which has historically struggled to win over reviewers even when films performed well commercially.
The film was also shot specifically for IMAX, with cinematographer Dariusz Wolski behind the camera, a choice that likely contributed to the immersive theatrical experience critics have singled out in their reviews. That format decision fits the horror-thriller tone Cregger was aiming for, prioritizing tension and scale over the campier action beats that defined earlier entries in the franchise.
The ‘Resident Evil‘ franchise has had an uneven history on the big screen. Paul W.S. Anderson’s earlier films leaned heavily into large-scale action spectacle, while 2021’s ‘Welcome to Raccoon City’ attempted a more faithful reboot that failed to launch a lasting new series.
Cregger’s version appears to have found the right formula by blending horror tension with a leaner, more grounded story that doesn’t require deep franchise knowledge to follow. Given the strong reception, both financially and critically, it’s easy to see Sony and Constantin Film fast-tracking further installments built around this new creative direction.
For a franchise that many assumed had run out of fresh ideas after decades of ups and downs, this weekend’s numbers suggest ‘Resident Evil’ might be entering one of its strongest chapters yet.
The first trailer for Zach Cregger's ‘RESIDENT EVIL’ has been released.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 30, 2026
In theaters on September 18. pic.twitter.com/eeVCAGzy6M
The supporting cast has also drawn attention for rounding out the story with a mix of comedic and dramatic talent. Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser and Johnno Wilson all play Umbrella Corporation employees whose paths intersect with Bryan’s, adding texture to a story that otherwise centers on one ordinary man thrown into chaos.
What do you think of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil reboot?
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