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Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ To Freak Out Masses With Record Franchise Opening At U.S. Box Office
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.
In short
- Resident Evil tracking for record $35M US franchise opening, possibly $50M
- Strong early sales driven by buzz around director Zach Cregger's Weapons
- Practical Magic 2 also expected to open above $40M next week
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 Cregger’s adaptation can turn franchise recognition and his growing reputation into substantial cinema demand. Strong ticket sales, especially if they extend beyond young male fans, could signal that the film has broad appeal and give the series fresh momentum.
The case against
Opening-weekend projections are uncertain, and early interest concentrated among young male viewers may reflect the established fanbase rather than wider appeal. A strong debut alone would not show whether the film can sustain audiences or succeed against competing releases; its longer-term performance will matter too.
Explained simply
Resident Evil began as a video game series about people facing outbreaks of dangerous creatures, and it has since been adapted into several films. The new horror film is directed by Zach Cregger and stars Austin Abrams and Paul Walter Hauser; it follows a medical courier caught in a fight to survive in the fictional Raccoon City.
The series has an established fanbase, while Cregger has drawn wider attention through his earlier horror film Weapons. The film’s box-office performance matters to studios and cinemas as an indication of how much demand there is for another Resident Evil film and whether it can attract viewers beyond existing fans.
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