“Resident Evil,” Zach Cregger‘s reimagining of the popular film series, grossed more in its opening weekend than the first “Resident Evil” did in its entire run. The video game adaptation amassed $108.3 million worldwide, with $48.3 million of that coming from international markets and $60 million coming from domestic theaters. In contrast, “Resident Evil” grossed just under $103 million worldwide in 2002 when it wrapped up its theatrical release. Of course, when adjusted for inflation, that number trumps the debut weekend of Cregger’s reboot, but it still speaks to the new film’s outsized popularity.
“Resident Evil” also confirms that its writer and director is one of the hottest talents in Hollywood. Vulture recently placed him as the 17th most powerful director in its filmmaker rankings on the strength of “Barbarian” and “Weapons.” After this weekend, he climbs even higher, as will his price tag.
Clearly, Cregger understands what audiences are looking for. “Barbarian” was a solid success, earning $46.2 million on a $4.5 million budget. “Weapons” was a juggernaut, grossing $270 million against a $38 million budget and winning an Oscar for Amy Madigan’s gonzo performance as Aunt Gladys (a prequel is in the works). Sony’s TriStar Pictures, Constantin Film, and Davis Film had the good fortune to hire Cregger for “Resident Evil” between the opening of “Barbarian” and the release of “Weapons” — a time when he showed promise, but before his “quote” had risen to its current level.
“Resident Evil” carries a $75 million price tag and stands to be quite profitable for its backers. It also reinvigorates a series that had seemed played out. It was at a low ebb just a few years ago when 2021’s
“Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” bombed, grossing $42 million against its $25 million budget (theaters keep roughly half of ticket sales), and a “Resident Evil” television series was axed by Netflix in 2022.
Now, a follow-up “Resident Evil” film feels inevitable. As for Cregger, he’s now one of the few directors who can get a film greenlit on his name alone. So if he’d like to make a 3-hour black-and-white movie starring Austin Abrams as a CPA during tax season, someone will pay for it.
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