Resident Evil Movie Projected to Shatter Opening Weekend Records

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil film is poised to achieve the most profitable opening weekend of any adaptation from Capcom’s horror franchise, according to Box Office Pro.

Projected $40M-$50M Opening Weekend

The zombie thriller is predicted to earn between $40 million and $50 million during its September debut, surpassing all previous Resident Evil movie opening weekends.

Comparison to Previous Films

This would represent a significant leap from Resident Evil: Afterlife’s $26.65 million in 2010, with Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Resident Evil: Extinction earning approximately $23 million each. The original 2002 film grossed $17.7 million, while Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) earned a considerably lower $8.9 million.

Director’s Approach

Director Zach Cregger has intentionally deviated from a direct game adaptation, focusing on an average Joe caught in the Racoon City Incident. He’s incorporated subtle references to the games, including ammo scavenging, shotgun shells from Resident Evil 4, and first-person action. Cregger stated, "I am not trying to adapt a video game. I'm not using the characters from the games. I'm not telling a story that the games tell because I'm not going to be able to do it better than the games."

Critical Reception and Hype

Described as a "thrill ride" and "Fury Road of horror," the film clocks in at one hour and 35 minutes. Enthusiasm is high, bolstered by Cregger’s track record in horror filmmaking, including Barbarian and Weapons.