Resident Evil’s $60M Debut Sets Franchise Record at North American Box Office

Zach Cregger's "Resident Evil" topped the North American box office with a franchise-best $60 million debut, boosting the theatrical market. The Sony release earned the highest opening for the video game-inspired series, surpassing all but one prior film's entire domestic run. The film stars Austin Abrams as a medical courier battling infected creatures in Raccoon City. It received strong reviews with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, and audiences were 66% male and 75% under 35, earning a B+ CinemaScore. The $75 million production added $48.3 million internationally for a $108.3 million global launch. Cregger, known for "Barbarian" and "Weapons," has built a reputation for defying typical horror box office patterns. "Practical Magic 2" took second with $12.2 million, while "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" placed third with $6.5 million in its eighth weekend.