Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil film has had a strong start in cinemas, setting box-office records.
Following its wide release on Friday 18 September, Resident Evil has grossed $108.3 million worldwide across its opening weekend.
That is a franchise record, and surpasses the total gross of the original film from 2002, which was $102.9 million.
This opening is also a record for Cregger, beating his 2025 smash-hit horror Weapons, which opened to approximately $70 million worldwide.
It shows the hype around this video game adaptation has met with passionate cinema audiences.
That assumption is reflected in the critical responses to Resident Evil.
What do the critics think of ‘Resident Evil’?
Rotten Tomatoes has aggregated 201 reviews of the film so far, and the critics’ consensus score is an impressive 96%.
“Packing unforgettable scares into a sleek runtime while Austin Abrams’ crack comedic timing provides crucial levity, Cregger’s Resident Evil is a propulsive tribute to the pleasure and terror of playing a truly spooky video game,” the site says.
Moreover, over 2,500 verified ratings have granted the film a 91% audience score.
Big box office numbers, a strong critics’ consensus and high audience ratings are no doubt contributing factors to the B+ grade the film has been granted by CinemaScore.
Haven’t seen the film? Here’s what to expect
The official synopsis succinctly details what audiences can expect from Cregger’s film.
“In an all-new story, Resident Evil follows Bryan ( Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.”
Cregger intended to create a lean narrative that evokes the single-player experience of playing a Resident Evil video game – the gaming franchise has gained a global fanbase since it launched in 1996.
Speaking to the Guardian, Cregger explained how this informed the lead character Bryan.
“It’s fun to have a character who is a real character and convincing in the scenario, but also behaving the way that I think most people who play Resident Evil would behave,” he said.
“He’s more suited to be on the couch playing Resident Evil than surviving Resident Evil, and that’s why he’s the perfect person to put into this scenario.”
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