Zach Cregger’s “Resident Evil” Boosts Box Office
Zach Cregger’s adaptation of “Resident Evil” opened strongly in North America, raking in $60 million from 3,684 theaters across the U.S. and Canada during its debut weekend, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
This marks a high point for the video game-inspired series, which has already seen seven films since 2002, and for Cregger, known for “Weapons” and “Barbarian.” Curiously, this figure surpasses the total domestic earnings of most prior entries in the franchise, with the exception of “Resident Evil: Afterlife” from 2010, which finished with around $60.1 million—though that’s not adjusted for inflation.
Cregger’s film features Austin Abrams, who had a key role in “Weapons,” as a medical courier. His last assignment brings him face-to-face with infected creatures in Raccoon City. The film has received largely positive reviews, currently holding a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The demographic composition of the audience was interesting; 66% male and a whopping 75% under 35, according to PostTrak exit polls. It received a B+ CinemaScore. Cregger’s previous works have defied typical expectations for horror films, where box office numbers usually plummet post-opening weekend. “Barbarian,” for example, grossed over $46 million on a budget of less than $5 million, while “Weapons” brought in $270 million from a $38 million budget.
“Zach Cregger is becoming quite a name in horror,” noted Paul Dergarabedian, the head of marketplace trends for Rentrak. “Some directors start to overshadow even the stars.”
Reportedly, “Resident Evil” had a production budget of $75 million, which doesn’t cover marketing costs. Internationally, it pulled in $48.3 million, leading to a global total of $108.3 million for its opening.
“Cregger combined with a big franchise equals substantial earnings,” Dergarabedian added. “He brought a fresh perspective to it.”
This year has been lucrative for horror films, with notable blockbusters like “Obsession” and “Backrooms” helping the genre surpass $1.1 billion at the domestic box office.
In second place was “Practical Magic 2,” which dropped about 59% from a lackluster opening, earning $12.2 million from 4,163 theaters. An extra $7 million from international markets raised its total to $76.8 million worldwide.
Among limited releases, “The History of Concrete,” a documentary by comedian John Wilson, grossed $90,000 from just one screen at the IFC Center in New York. It’s worth noting that the only film to earn more in a single weekend at that location was “Parasite,” which made $119,407.
Top 10 Movies by Domestic Box Office
The following list, reflecting estimated ticket sales from Friday to Sunday, was compiled with the final domestic figures expected on Monday, according to Rentrak:
- “Resident Evil,” $60 million.
- “Practical Magic 2,” $12.2 million.
- “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” $6.5 million.
- “The Odyssey,” $4.9 million.
- “Coyote vs. Acme,” $4.5 million.
- “Runner,” $3.2 million.
- “Daniel and the Fiery Furnace,” $3.1 million.
- “Transformers: The Movie” (40th anniversary re-release), $3.1 million.
- “The Weight,” $2.3 million.
- “Buddy,” $1.9 million.
