Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ Reboot Opened to $60 Million, the Biggest Debut in the Franchise’s 24-Year History

A young man runs through a snowy urban street at night, clutching an object, with fire and debris exploding behind him and snow-covered cars lining the road.

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil reboot didn’t just meet expectations this weekend — it blew past them. Projected for a $40 million to $50 million opening, the film pulled in $60 million domestically, then added $48.3 million overseas for a $108.3 million global start.

Zach Cregger at the Sony Pictures CinemaCon photo call at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas
Director Zach Cregger takes the stage at Sony Pictures’ CinemaCon photo call inside Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to present his Resident Evil reboot, April 13, 2026. Photo by Chris Delmas / AFP via Getty Images.

That $60 million haul is the biggest opening in the series’ 24-year history. The previous record holder, 2010’s Resident Evil: Afterlife, launched with $26 million domestically on its way to $300 million worldwide. Cregger’s reboot more than doubled that opening figure, and that’s without adjusting for inflation.

Austin Abrams at the Resident Evil world premiere at The United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles
Austin Abrams steps out for the “Resident Evil” world premiere at The United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles on September 15, 2026. Photo by Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images.

Sony put $75 million behind the reboot, the eighth entry in the franchise. The gamble looks especially smart next to the series’ last outing: 2021’s Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City opened to just $5.3 million and finished with $42 million worldwide against a $25 million budget.

This version stars Austin Abrams — who also appeared in Cregger’s Weapons — as a medical courier who gets caught in an outbreak of infected monsters on his way to Raccoon City. Critics and audiences are on board, too: the film holds a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and earned a B+ from CinemaScore audiences.

A young man holding a submachine gun stands outside a snow-covered hospital emergency entrance at night, with an ambulance and crowd visible behind him.
Austin Abrams, armed and tense outside a snow-covered hospital emergency entrance, in Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil. Photo by Dušan Martinček.

The strong debut extends a hot streak for Cregger. His 2025 film Weapons opened to $43 million and went on to earn $270 million worldwide on a $38 million budget, with Amy Madigan taking home an Oscar for her performance.

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