The new Resident Evil film, directed by Zach Cregger, is projected to gross $108.3 million globally in its opening weekend, setting a new franchise record. Despite some fan skepticism over the adaptation's direction prior to release, the opening weekend box office exceeded expectations.
This film, which blends horror and comedy elements, is projected to earn $60 million in North America and $48.3 million overseas during its opening weekend. Previous expectations for the North American opening ranged between $40 million and $50 million. The film topped both the North American and global box office charts in its opening weekend, also marking the best opening for any film directed by Cregger.
The film stars Austin Abrams as Brian, an original character whose story revolves around his experiences in the disaster-stricken Raccoon City. Zach Cherry, Kaley Cuoco, and Paul Walter Hauser also appear in the film.
The new film aims to draw inspiration from the gameplay experience of survival horror games. After the first trailers were released earlier this year, some fans struggled to accept the significant downplaying of familiar elements like Leon S. Kennedy and the T-Virus. The more modern setting and the snow-covered Raccoon City also sparked controversy over the adaptation's direction, while other viewers expressed concern about the horror effects shown in early clips.
IGN gave the film an 8/10, praising it for telling a simple yet thrilling survival horror story, with Cregger's directorial style adding significant value. The film's production budget was approximately $75 million.