Sony’s latest "Resident Evil" is shaping up to be the strongest theatrical opener in the survival-horror franchise’s 24-year film history. The reboot is tracking for a $40 million to $50 million domestic debut, and some independent services believe strong reviews and word-of-mouth could push it above $50 million, possibly near $60 million.
The film cost $75 million to produce, so a start at the top of that range would put Sony in a healthier position before international markets and holdover weekends are counted. For an IP that has usually been a mid-level franchise play, the opening trajectory is the story.
The Cregger effect
Exhibitors are leaning on director Zach Cregger, whose previous film, "Weapons," opened to $43 million last August and finished with $270 million globally against a $38 million budget. That R-rated original thriller became a sleeper hit and won an Oscar for Amy Madigan. Cregger now reunites with "Weapons" actor Austin Abrams, who stars as a medical courier fighting infected monsters in Raccoon City.
Why this opening matters
Sony is resetting a property that stalled with 2021’s "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City," which opened to $5.3 million and ended with just $42 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. The original six Milla Jovovich films each opened in the $20 million range and collectively grossed more than $1 billion globally. The highest-grossing installment, 2010’s "Resident Evil: Afterlife," launched with $26 million domestically and finished near $300 million worldwide.
- The $75 million production budget is a much bigger swing than the 2021 reboot’s $25 million spend.
- A $40M-$50M start would easily top the franchise’s previous best domestic opening of $26 million.
- Reviews are a commercial asset here: Variety’s Owen Gleiberman called the film "different, and much better, than the other ‘Resident Evil’ movies."
What to watch next
The reboot is the weekend’s only major release, so the No. 1 spot is effectively locked. The more useful signal for distribution and exhibition teams is whether it can leg out beyond horror’s typically front-loaded performance. Next weekend adds three wide entries: Paramount’s "Heart of the Beast," Universal and DreamWorks Animation’s "Forgotten Island," and A24’s "Primetime" with Robert Pattinson. Disney is also re-releasing "Avengers: Endgame" ahead of "Avengers: Doomsday."
For media planners and streaming buyers, the opening number is a test of whether filmmaker heat and strong reviews can re-rate older video-game IP. A franchise-best debut would also set a higher bar for Sony’s marketing efficiency, since the campaign needs to convert both legacy fans and a younger horror audience in a single weekend.
Source: Variety
