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‘Resident Evil’ Is Officially Coming Back Bigger Than Ever at the Box Office
Sony's upcoming Zach Cregger-directed reboot of "Resident Evil" is projected to smash the franchise's domestic opening-weekend record, potentially by a factor of three, ahead of its 18 September release. The buzz reflects both a heavy marketing push, including a major PLF and IMAX rollout, and the strong reputation Cregger has built with his previous horror hits, giving the long-running but critically mixed franchise a possible commercial and reputational boost.
Early estimates suggest a domestic debut of around $35 million, with some forecasts, including one from Global Box Office, predicting over $70 million, far surpassing the series' current record held by "Resident Evil: Afterlife". The film, starring Austin Abrams alongside Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser, reportedly cost $80 million to make and follows a medical courier caught up in an outbreak in Raccoon City. Cregger's prior films, "Barbarian" and "Weapons", both performed strongly and were well-reviewed, with "Weapons" earning Amy Madigan an Oscar, contrasting with the "Resident Evil" franchise's historically poor critical reception.
In short
- New "Resident Evil" reboot may triple the franchise's opening-weekend record
- Director Zach Cregger follows hits "Barbarian" and "Weapons"
- Film starring Austin Abrams opens in cinemas on 18 September
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A record opening would show that the franchise still has a large audience and that Cregger’s track record, broad-format release and marketing have built real anticipation. Strong ticket sales could give the series renewed commercial momentum and help a costly film succeed in a competitive market.
The case against
Opening-weekend forecasts are uncertain, especially when estimates vary widely, and heavy promotion does not guarantee sustained audience interest. A big debut would demonstrate initial demand, but it would not by itself show that the reboot improves on the franchise’s mixed critical reputation or performs well over time.
Explained simply
Resident Evil began as a Japanese video game series about people caught up in outbreaks linked to a powerful company and its experiments. Its games have inspired several films set around the fictional city of Raccoon City, including a long-running series that has had mixed reviews from critics.
The new film is directed by Zach Cregger, whose earlier horror films include Barbarian and Weapons. It stars Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser, and follows a medical courier caught in an outbreak in Raccoon City.
The project brings together an established film franchise and a director whose recent work has attracted strong attention. Its performance could affect how audiences and studios view the series’ prospects as a cinema release.
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