Zach Cregger's Resident Evil just walked into the box office like it owned the place, raking in a franchise-record $108.3 million globally this weekend and making every previous entry look like it phoned it in. The quirky, everyday-hero angle with Austin Abrams as bumbling medical courier Bryan paid off bigger than anyone expected, outpacing projections and even topping Cregger's own Weapons haul. Sony's $75 million bet is already looking like it printed money before the credits rolled in most markets.
Critics and audiences are eating it up too — 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, the highest for any video game movie yet, with a B+ CinemaScore and that sweet "Universally Acclaimed" Metacritic stamp. The comedic horror blend clearly clicked where straight-laced zombie flicks faltered, and skipping the usual Leon and Redfield heroics for something more relatable might be the smartest move Capcom's film universe has seen. International numbers like $5.8M in the UK and $5.6M in Mexico show the virus is spreading nicely, with Japan and China still to drop.
Darlings, this one's already doubled some past full runs and is flirting with a potential $450-500M global finish. Cregger's streak continues, and the franchise finally got the fresh coat of paint it desperately needed instead of another rehash.
