The new Resident Evil film, directed by Weapons director Zach Cregger, is set for release on September 17, with analysts predicting it will break the series' box office records.
According to Box Office Pro, the official publication of the National Association of Theatre Owners, the new Resident Evil film is projected to earn between $40 million and $50 million in its North American opening weekend, nearly double the $26.6 million opening weekend of the 2010 film Resident Evil: Afterlife. With a runtime of just about 95 minutes, this new Resident Evil movie allows theaters to schedule multiple screenings per day, thereby maximizing box office revenue.
If the opening weekend box office for Resident Evil reaches $40 million or more, it will match the opening weekend of his most recent film, Weapons. Released in 2025, Weapons grossed $43.5 million in its opening weekend and went on to earn a total of $270 million worldwide. If predictions hold true, Craig's Resident Evil will far outperform 2021's Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, which was a box office bomb, earning only $42 million.
But can Resident Evil maintain its box office momentum after the opening weekend? It's not uncommon for films to see a drop in ticket sales after their first week, but Craig's films typically enjoy longer theatrical runs. 2016's Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is currently the highest-grossing film in the Resident Evil series, with a worldwide cumulative gross of $312.2 million.
Worldwide Box Office Results for the Resident Evil Film Series
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017) – $312.2 million
Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) – $300.2 million
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) – $240 million
Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) – $148 million
Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) – $129 million
Resident Evil (2002) – $103 million
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) – $42 million
Resident Evil may also have strong rewatch potential, as director Cregger crafted an original story inspired by his own status as a devoted fan of the game series, and early trailers showcased numerous Easter eggs.