Zach Cregger's Resident Evil Tracking for Record Breaking Opening Weekend
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Zach Cregger's new Resident Evil movie is tracking for a franchise-best opening weekend globally, despite initial fan skepticism over its departure from established game stories.
Director Zach Cregger is poised to shatter franchise records with his fresh take on Resident Evil. According to reporting from Variety and Deadline, the film is currently tracking for a massive domestic opening between $40 million and $60 million, alongside an estimated $31 million overseas. That points to a global debut of around $80 million, giving Sony a strong start on a production budget of $75 million and easily outpacing 2010's Resident Evil: Afterlife, which previously held the domestic opening record at $26.6 million.
That box office momentum comes despite a wave of early skepticism from long-time fans. Cregger chose to chart an entirely original path within the universe rather than adapting established storylines or featuring legacy characters like Leon S. Kennedy. In interviews, Cregger admitted he felt like he was on an apology tour while navigating fan pushback, noting that he understands the frustration because he holds the source material to a high standard himself. He remains confident that audiences who give the film a chance will recognize the genuine love and survival horror roots woven into the project.
The film has also been turning heads critically, earning an 8 out of 10 from IGN for its laser-focused, high tension survival horror sensibilities. Cregger even trimmed down the humor after test screenings indicated the movie was leaning too far into comedy, ensuring the tone stays grounded. While setting out to top the lifetime franchise highs of past entries like The Final Chapter will take time, Cregger's horror pedigree is proving to be a powerful draw for general audiences and curious players alike.
Tags: Resident Evil, Gaming News, Movies, Survival Horror
Original article: IGN South Africa