Constantin Film and Sony Pictures’ horror reboot Resident Evil has done it again — the video game adaptation secured its fourth consecutive weekend at number one across mainland China, grossing RMB28.5 million ($4.3 million) over the October 30–November 1 frame, according to data from Artisan Gateway.
Resident Evil (Credits: Constantin Film / Sony Pictures)
Since launching during the Golden Week corridor on October 5, the Zach Cregger-directed reboot has generated a cumulative haul of $71.3 million in China alone — a remarkable run for a horror film in a market where the genre often struggles against local competition.
Resident Evil China Box Office Fourth Weekend: How It Keeps Winning
The film’s staying power comes down to timing and audience loyalty. The Golden Week holidays gave Resident Evil a massive launch, and the franchise has been a favorite in China since Resident Evil: Final Chapter opened to a reported $94.3 million back in 2017. Cregger’s reboot has already passed $320.2 million worldwide, becoming the director’s highest-grossing film ever and comfortably overtaking his Oscar-winning Weapons ($270 million).
China has been the engine of that success, delivering $40.6 million of the film’s $62.65 million global fourth weekend. With a reported $75 million production budget, the reboot is now firmly in blockbuster territory.
John Wick (2014) Finally Debuts in China — Lands in Third
The weekend’s biggest surprise was a late arrival: John Wick, the 2014 Keanu Reeves action film that launched the billion-dollar franchise, finally debuted in Chinese cinemas and landed in third place. The 12-year delay is a quirk of China’s import quota system, which strictly limits foreign releases — some hits wait years for a slot.
While its exact debut gross hasn’t been disclosed, cracking the top three more than a decade after its global release is a testament to the franchise’s enduring global fanbase, with John Wick now one of the most recognizable action brands in the world.
Resident Evil’s dominance shows no sign of fading as November’s release calendar stays relatively quiet — the real question now is whether it can stretch its streak to a fifth weekend.
Also Read: China Box Office: Resident Evil Stays at No. 1 for Third Weekend as Market Hits Fall Lull
Also Read: Resident Evil Story Could End in the Next 10 Years, Says Executive Producer Jun Takeuchi
Source: Variety — read the full story there.
