Pre-sales for the American horror film Resident Evil, directed by Zach Cregger, have begun, sparking a buying frenzy ahead of its upcoming release. Current pre-sale performance significantly outpaces other major new releases in the same genre, including Final Destination 6 and Weapons. Experts unanimously agree that this reboot is set to deliver the best opening weekend of Cregger's directing career.
Currently, analysts predict the film's North American opening weekend box office will exceed $50 million. Industry platform EmpireCity Box Office notes that its pre-sale trends are comparable to hit films like The Conjuring 4 and Five Nights at Freddy's, which both saw explosive growth during their opening weeks. Given the $80 million production budget, experts anticipate the new Resident Evil will be highly profitable. It is expected that the film's global box office will firmly surpass $400 million by the end of its theatrical run, making it one of the most commercially successful projects in the franchise.
The film is scheduled for release on September 18. The story revolves around an ordinary medical supply courier who needs to deliver an urgent package to Raccoon City General Hospital, only to arrive on the very first day of a massive zombie apocalypse outbreak.