Few horror comebacks in recent memory are this dramatic. The Resident Evil movie franchise was widely written off after its last reboot, and Zach Cregger has now turned it into a global hit. The result also shows that the director of Barbarian and Weapons can carry a major franchise and still make it feel like his own. For Sony, it is a rare win for a video game adaptation.
A New Franchise Record
Cregger’s Resident Evil has reached exactly $400 million worldwide, with $157.4 million in North America and $242.6 million overseas. That passes 2016’s The Final Chapter, which made $312 million, as the highest-grossing film in the 24-year franchise. The earlier entries Afterlife and Retribution grossed $300 million and $240 million. The film opened in September with a series-best $60 million domestically, and Sony produced it for a reported $75 million.
A Career Best for Cregger
The film is also Cregger’s biggest to date. It tops Weapons at $270 million and Barbarian at $46 million. iHorror notes that Cregger passed Weapons in mid-October, when the China opening pushed the total to $320 million. The previous reboot, 2021’s Welcome to Raccoon City, made $42 million against a $25 million budget. It’s also the third horror film to cross $400 million in 2026, after Obsession and Backrooms.
What’s Next for the Film
The film is reportedly heading to digital platforms on November 3, and Netflix is expected to be its first subscription streaming home in the US. Projections suggest it could finish between $415 million and $425 million. Undead Walking reports that sales of the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 remakes jumped more than 50% when Capcom discounted them.
Is a Sequel Coming?
Nothing is confirmed. Sony and Constantin Film have not officially greenlit a sequel. Cregger told The Town podcast that he would want some hand in future films, because he can’t help having an idea for where the franchise could go. He also said he feels like he is playing with house money after Barbarian and Weapons. His next project is the sci-fi film The Flood, and any further Resident Evil movie with him would have to wait for it.
Resident Evil is in theaters now.
