Controversial pick? Apparently not anymore. Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil has stormed past $360 million at the global box office — and it’s now outpacing some of the biggest horror hits of recent years.
Resident Evil (Credits: IGN)
The horror flick, which dared to adapt the feel of the Capcom games rather than their exact story and characters, has proven the skeptics wrong in the most lucrative way possible. It now stands as the highest-grossing Resident Evil movie in franchise history, blowing past Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’s $314.1 million — and its $148.4 million domestic haul alone dwarfs Afterlife’s $60.1 million.
Outpacing Horror’s Biggest Hitters
The film’s run is even more impressive when stacked against 2026’s other horror juggernauts. In China, its debut outpaced Alien: Romulus’s reported $26.1 million opening, and it beat the China openings of Backrooms ($5.2 million) and Obsession ($4.8 million). Overall, it has cracked the top 3 highest-grossing horror films of 2026 worldwide, sitting behind only Obsession ($522.2 million) and Backrooms ($400.6 million).
Critics are in love too: the film holds a Certified Fresh 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated installment of the franchise — and the highest-rated video game adaptation of all time.
The Story Behind the Success
The film stars Austin Abrams as Bryan Hodukavich, an out-of-luck medical courier whose last delivery of the night pulls him into a nightmare outbreak in Raccoon City. Cregger co-wrote the reboot with Shay Hatten, positioning it as a fresh start for the eight-film series rather than a continuation.
Box office watchers say the movie is tracking toward a $450-500 million final run with China and Japan still fueling growth. As one analyst put it: “Zach Cregger plus big franchise equals big bucks.”
Also Read: China Box Office: Resident Evil Retains #1 Spot as Quiet Post-Holiday Frame Sets Franchise Record
Source: IGN — read the full story there.
