Zach Cregger’s horror reboot Resident Evil has surpassed all previous live-action entries in the franchise, grossing over $320 million worldwide following a major box office debut in China, vybe.ch reported. The milestone positions the production above Paul W.S. Anderson’s 2016 film Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, which previously held the series record with $312.2 million globally.
Global Box Office Totals Surpass Previous Franchise Entries
The film achieved a worldwide opening weekend of $108.3 million, establishing a new record for the game adaptation franchise. According to Box Office Mojo figures cited by vybe.ch, the worldwide gross climbed past $320 million after just four weeks in theaters. Domestically, worldofreel.com reported that the film brought in $8.3 million over its fourth weekend from over 3,000 locations, marking a 34% drop and bringing its domestic total to a strong figure. Studio financing for the project reached an estimated $75 million to $80 million production budget, with Sony Pictures backing the release alongside Constantin Film, as noted by worldofreel.com and vybe.ch.
The lifetime global earnings for the live-action franchise rank as follows, based on unadjusted figures from vybe.ch:
- Resident Evil (2026): over $320 million
- Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016): $312.2 million
- Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010): $300.2 million
- Resident Evil: Retribution (2012): $240.2 million
- Resident Evil Extinction (2007): $147.7 million
- Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004): $129.4 million
- Resident Evil (2002): $102.4 million
- Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021): $42 million
The Chinese Market Drives International Momentum
China played a central role in pushing the film past its predecessor, generating an opening week gross of over $40 million, according to vybe.ch. Blairwitch.de reported that the film opened on a Monday during China’s National Holiday Golden Week, pulling in $12.1 million on its first day to secure the largest opening day for a Hollywood horror film in recent Chinese box office history. After two days, the release cleared $20 million in the territory. While blairwitch.de noted that modern figures remain below the historical peak of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter—which took in $159.5 million in China in 2017—industry analysts cited by worldofreel.com project the current reboot could ultimately clear $100 million in the region.
Future Production Plans and Director Commitments
Following the box office performance, industry reporting from worldofreel.com indicates that Sony intends to pursue a sequel, though director Zach Cregger’s involvement remains unconfirmed. Cregger previously directed the 2022 horror film Barbarian and the 2025 thriller Weapons, which grossed $270 million globally. Cregger’s next project is an original sci-fi film titled The Flood, starring Jennifer Lawrence and scheduled to begin production next year, according to worldofreel.com.
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