‘Resident Evil’ Previews Just Shattered a Franchise Record, and the Opening Weekend Forecast Keeps Climbing

Thursday preview numbers have become one of the most reliable early indicators in the box office world, often setting the tone for how an entire opening weekend will play out. For horror films especially, a strong preview night can signal genuine audience hunger rather than just marketing buzz.

Zach Cregger’s reboot of “Resident Evil” spent the past several weeks building momentum through strong critical buzz, but Thursday night’s actual ticket sales have now confirmed just how much heat this film is generating heading into its wide release.

“Resident Evil” pulled in roughly $8.8 million to $9 million in Thursday preview screenings, obliterating the franchise’s previous preview record of just $1 million set by 2016’s “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.” The film played across 3,166 theaters, and PostTrak scores from last night came in at 4.5 out of 5 stars, pushing the weekend projection up to around $65 million, with some estimates suggesting it could climb even higher.

That preview haul lands well above the numbers posted by Cregger’s own “Weapons,” which opened with $5.75 million in previews before going on to earn $43.5 million in its opening weekend. It also surpasses “Scream 7’s” $7.8 million preview total, a film that ultimately opened to $63.6 million, suggesting “Resident Evil” could be tracking toward a similarly strong multiplier once full weekend numbers are tallied.

Looks like $9M previews for #ResidentEvil. Initial audience reception is superb. Expecting strong play over the weekend to reach $65M. https://t.co/ozJdzg6bDs

— ਜਤਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ (@Itsjat32) September 18, 2026

Recent horror releases offer a useful comparison point for how preview numbers tend to translate into full opening weekends. “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” turned $7.2 million in previews into a $64 million opening weekend, while “Conjuring: Last Rites” converted $8.5 million in previews into an $84 million debut, both with considerably weaker reviews than what “Resident Evil” has received.

The film is also setting franchise records on Rotten Tomatoes, holding a 96% critical score alongside a 91% audience score, clearing the previous franchise high of 67% set by the original 2002 film. That combination of critical acclaim and strong genre buzz appears to be translating directly into ticket sales, with reports describing packed screenings and numerous attendees expressing interest in seeing the film again.

The first trailer for Zach Cregger's ‘RESIDENT EVIL’ has been released.

In theaters on September 18. pic.twitter.com/eeVCAGzy6M

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 30, 2026

This marks Cregger’s third consecutive box office success following “Barbarian” and “Weapons,” further cementing his reputation as one of horror’s most reliable directors working today. Reports indicate Cregger was paid $20 million to direct the film, which carried a production budget of $75 million.

With the film being described by some early viewers as the best video game adaptation ever made, admittedly a low bar historically, that kind of praise is proving effective at pulling in both longtime franchise fans and curious newcomers alike. The film’s marketing has also leaned into that crossover appeal, positioning it as accessible to audiences well beyond the core “Resident Evil” fanbase.

With Thursday previews already smashing every previous franchise benchmark and weekend projections climbing toward the $90 million range worldwide, “Resident Evil” appears positioned to deliver Sony’s biggest debut for the property in its 24-year history. Full weekend numbers won’t be officially verified until Sunday, but early indicators suggest this reboot has already exceeded even the more optimistic pre-release expectations.

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