Director Zach Cregger's new film 'Resident Evil' is estimated to have grossed $108.3 million globally (approx. 147.3 billion won) during its opening weekend. In North America, it earned $60 million (approx. 81.6 billion won), marking the highest opening performance among the live-action film series that began in 2002.
Citing Sony Pictures' Sunday studio estimates, AP reported on the 20th (local time) that the film earned $60 million across 3,684 theaters in the United States and Canada from the 18th to the 20th, topping the weekend box office. Combined with $48.3 million (approx. 65.7 billion won) in overseas revenue, the global opening reached $108.3 million. Won conversions were rounded using the mid-market exchange rate of approximately 1,360 won per dollar on the 22nd.
This North American result is the highest opening weekend record for the franchise, including the previous seven films. It is also a personal best opening for Cregger. According to AP, the production budget was reportedly around $75 million (approx. 102 billion won), excluding marketing and promotional costs.
Based on Capcom's video game franchise, the film follows Bryan, a medical courier, who encounters infected creatures in Raccoon City one night. Cregger directed the film, with Austin Abrams starring as Bryan. Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser also star.
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at box office tracking firm Rentrak, evaluated that director Cregger has established himself as a filmmaker whose name alone draws audiences in the horror genre. He explained that combining a major franchise with Cregger led to box office success and brought a fresh perspective to the existing series.
