Resident Evil Reboot Sets Franchise Record With $60 Million Opening Weekend

Sony Pictures’ Resident Evil reboot earned $60 million in its domestic opening weekend, the highest debut in the franchise’s 24-year film history. The film, directed by Zach Cregger, opened in 3,684 theaters across the United States and Canada, according to studio estimates released on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

The opening far exceeded industry expectations of $40 million to $50 million and surpassed the $53 million to $55 million range that the studio projected as of Saturday. It also marks the biggest opening of Cregger’s career, beating the $43.5 million debut of his previous film, Weapons, in August 2025.

International Performance

Internationally, the reboot added $48.3 million from 62 overseas markets, bringing its global opening to $108.3 million. The film has already grossed more than the entire domestic run of the first Resident Evil film, which earned $40.1 million in 2002.

The $60 million domestic debut came close to matching the lifetime domestic gross of Resident Evil: Afterlife, the previous franchise record holder, which earned $60.1 million during its entire theatrical run in 2010.

Critical and Audience Reception

The reboot holds a 96 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest rating for any live-action film in the franchise. The audience score stands at 91 percent. The film received a B+ CinemaScore from opening-night audiences, the best grade ever for a Resident Evil movie.

PostTrak exit polls showed the audience was 66 percent male and 75 percent under the age of 35. The film carries a production budget of $75 million.

Cregger Addresses Fan Skepticism

Cregger defended his decision to create an original story rather than directly adapting established characters from the video games. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said, ‘I know that when you dive into an IP you’re going to get flack, a certain degree, from the fandom. It would be weird if I were shocked that that was happening. But I think that when the people who love these games the way I do see the movie, my hope is that they feel seen and they feel like this movie is paying homage to the games, because it is, it’s obvious.’

The film stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier trapped in Raccoon City during a viral outbreak. The cast also includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser.

Sequel Possibilities

Cregger has indicated he has ideas for continuing the story. ‘I can’t help thinking about other places this story could go,’ he told The Playlist prior to the release. ‘I’ve got ideas, but this movie hasn’t even come out yet. Let’s see what happens.’

Cregger’s next project is an original science fiction film titled The Flood, currently scheduled for release on August 11, 2028. He has stated that he does not plan to direct another franchise film after Resident Evil.

Sony Pictures has not announced a sequel. The film remains in theaters and continues its international rollout.