Zach Cregger's film adaptation of Resident Evil is tracking for a $35 million opening weekend at the US box office, which would make it the biggest domestic debut in the franchise's history, surpassing 2010's Resident Evil: Afterlife ($26.6 million). Strong reported first-day ticket sales suggest the final figure could climb significantly higher, potentially reaching $50 million, with early demand skewing heavily towards male audiences under 25. The film's prospects are being buoyed by Cregger's rising profile following the success of his previous film Weapons, and its performance will be closely watched as a test of whether it can draw beyond the franchise's core fanbase.

The horror film, starring Austin Abrams and Paul Walter Hauser, opens in cinemas on 18 September and follows a medical courier who becomes trapped in a fight for survival after delivering a package to the fictional Raccoon City. Its projected opening already outpaces recent genre hits such as Weapons ($43.5 million), Alien: Romulus ($42 million) and 28 Years Later ($30 million), though it trails this summer's Mortal Kombat II by 23% in early audience interest. Also opening in the same post-Labor Day period is Warner Bros' Practical Magic 2, which is separately projected to open above $40 million.