Resident Evil Box Office Update Sees Horror Movie Break Franchise Record During Thursday Previews

Resident Evil has made a strong start at the box office before its opening weekend. The new horror movie has already broken a franchise record during its Thursday night previews. Directed by Zach Cregger, the film is a new adaptation of Capcom’s popular video game series.

According to Variety, Resident Evil earned $8.8 million from Thursday night previews. The figure gives the film the highest Thursday preview total in franchise history. It also ranks as the third-highest Thursday preview result for a video game movie. The film opens in theaters on September 18, 2026.

The film features Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier who finds himself caught in a deadly outbreak. Cregger directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Shay Hatten. The film has a reported production budget of $75 million and is opening in more than 3,000 theaters across the U.S.

The latest film arrives nearly a decade after Resident Evil: The Final Chapter ended the Milla Jovovich-led series in 2016. Cregger’s film instead introduces a new story and cast while retaining the horror elements associated with the franchise.

How much money is Resident Evil expected to make this weekend?

Initial industry tracking placed the opening weekend for Resident Evil between $40 million and $50 million. However, the record-breaking Thursday preview haul has significantly elevated studio expectations, with trade reports pointing toward a debut exceeding $60 million.

An opening in that range would comfortably surpass the franchise’s long-standing domestic opening weekend record. Resident Evil: Afterlife previously held the mark after earning $26.6 million during its 2010 theatrical debut. Crossing the $60 million threshold would represent more than double the previous series high.

The film is also entering theaters with strong critical reception. Resident Evil currently has a 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes from 155 reviews. With the film now playing nationwide, its Friday and Saturday performances will be crucial. That will determine whether it can maintain the momentum created by its record-breaking Thursday preview.

Source: Comingsoon.net