The new “Resident Evil” film directed by Zach Cregger releases on September 18 after debuting the night before, with strong early box office results. Multiple outlets report that it sets a franchise record during Thursday previews, outperforming previous “Resident Evil” entries’ Thursday-night performance.
GameSpot, citing Deadline, says Thursday previews in the U.S. bring in about $9 million or more, described as a series record. ComingSoon.net, citing Variety, reports $8.8 million from Thursday previews, also framing the result as a franchise high. Both accounts point to higher expectations for the film’s opening weekend, with GameSpot adding analyst projections of roughly $40 million to $50 million in the U.S.
GameSpot also provides additional context, including a $75 million production budget figure attributed to Deadline (not including marketing) and notes that Thursday preview figures come from distribution sources rather than official studio reporting. The outlet also mentions positive early critical response and that Cregger has spoken about potential future film ideas and franchise fatigue. Other coverage emphasizes the box office record and the new adaptation of Capcom’s game series.
