Box Office: ‘Resident Evil’ Makes $8.8 Million in Previews, Biggest Ever for Series — SkimNews
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- Resident Evil reboot pulled in $8.8 million in previews, the highest preview total in the eight-film video game franchise's history and a significant jump over Cregger's 'Weapons,' which opened with $5.7 million in previews
- Zach Cregger is directing the $75 million Sony reboot, his second horror release after 'Weapons' earned $270 million globally off a $43 million opening, making this a potential back-to-back theatrical hit for the filmmaker
- Sony is tracking a $40 million to $50 million domestic opening, though Deadline's headline suggests stronger-than-expected reviews (a 91% Rotten Tomatoes audience score) could push the debut closer to $60 million
- Austin Abrams stars as Bryan, a medical courier who delivers a mysterious package to a zombie-infested town, a departure from the Milla Jovovich-led franchise that dominated the 2000s and 2010s across six sequels
- Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) previously held the franchise record with a $26 million domestic opening and $300 million global run, a benchmark the new reboot is positioned to surpass in its opening weekend alone
- The film will easily claim the No. 1 box office spot after last week's 'Practical Magic 2' failed to spark with audiences
Why it matters: With a $75 million production budget and a $40-60 million projected opening, the reboot is on track to turn profitable within its first weekend and re-establish the long-dormant Resident Evil film franchise as a theatrical draw — the original six Jovovich films grossed over $1 billion collectively before video game adaptations were eclipsed by the 'Super Mario' movies.
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