Updated
Updated · Variety · Sep 19
Resident Evil Opens to $26.3 Million, Eyeing Record $55 Million Franchise Debut
Updated
Updated · Variety · Sep 19

Resident Evil Opens to $26.3 Million, Eyeing Record $55 Million Franchise Debut

3 articles · Updated · Variety · Sep 19

Summary

  • $26.3 million on 3,684 screens put Sony’s “Resident Evil” comfortably atop Friday’s domestic box office, with the reboot projected to reach about $55 million by Sunday.
  • That would make it the biggest opening in franchise history, more than doubling the prior weekend record of $26 million set by 2010’s “Resident Evil: Afterlife.”
  • Strong early reviews and word-of-mouth appear to be offsetting fan doubts about director Zach Cregger’s original-story reboot, which drops established game characters.
  • Far behind, “Practical Magic 2” added $3.1 million Friday and is headed for a $10.4 million second weekend, while “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” neared $944.2 million domestic.

Insights

How did a Resident Evil reboot with no legacy characters and an uninitiated lead actor achieve a franchise-best box office opening?
What specific gameplay mechanics did the director use to transform intense fan backlash into a massive critically acclaimed triumph?