The R-rated live-action remake of Resident Evil, directed by Zach Cregger, has made a strong opening. The film's North American box office for its opening weekend is projected to reach $53–55 million, with industry estimates placing the high end near $60 million, potentially setting a new opening record for the live-action film series.
The film opened in 3,684 theaters, grossing $26.3 million from Friday and preview screenings combined. Current estimates suggest Saturday's single-day box office could be around $20 million, representing a 24% drop from the Friday and preview total.
Sony currently projects a three-day opening weekend between $53 and $55 million. Even if the final figure remains within this range, it will surpass Zach Cregger's previous personal best opening of $43.5 million. Should it reach $60 million, it would rank seventh among the top ten September openings in North American box office history.
In terms of audience reception, the film earned a B+ CinemaScore, the highest rating for any live-action Resident Evil movie. PostTrak surveys showed a definite recommend score of 71% among general audiences; this figure rose to 76% among viewers aged 35–44, 74% among Latino and Hispanic audiences, and 73% among men over 25.
Ticketing data shows that 54% of audiences purchased their tickets on the day of viewing. Additionally, 46% of attendees cited their love for the Resident Evil series as their reason for watching, while 37% were drawn by director Zach Cregger. The current audience gender split is 66% male and 34% female.
Premium large format screens contributed 53% of the film's opening weekend revenue, with IMAX accounting for 16% and other premium formats making up 37%. The $26.3 million from Friday and previews has already surpassed the total North American box office of Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City ($17 million) and is approaching the final North American total of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter ($26.8 million).