Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ Officially Dethrones ‘The Final Chapter’ as the Franchise’s Biggest Hit

Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ has been on a remarkable run since it arrived in theaters on September 18. The eighth live-action film in the long-running franchise, and its second reboot, came with high expectations after Cregger’s breakout success with ‘Weapons’.

The film quickly proved it could deliver. It opened to $60 million domestically, crossed $108.3 million worldwide in its first weekend, and became the first ‘Resident Evil’ movie ever to top $100 million at the U.S. box office, doing so in just 10 days.

Now, the reboot has claimed the biggest prize of all. ‘Resident Evil’ has grossed $320.2 million worldwide, officially surpassing the $312 million total of ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’ to become the highest-grossing film in the franchise’s history, a milestone Sony has now confirmed.

That’s a major achievement for a series that has spanned more than 2 decades. The 8 live-action films have earned nearly $1.5 billion combined, making the franchise one of the most successful video game adaptations ever. The milestone also gives Cregger a personal record. The film has passed the $270.1 million lifetime total of ‘Weapons’ to become his highest-grossing movie to date.

Zach Cregger’s RESIDENT EVIL ($320.2M) has officially beaten THE FINAL CHAPTER ($312M) to become the highest-grossing RE movie of all time. Sony has just confirmed. https://t.co/D3joZAfasF

— Global Box Office (@GlobalBoxOffice) October 11, 2026

What makes this run stand out is how it was achieved. Previous entries from Paul W.S. Anderson relied heavily on international markets, with ‘The Final Chapter’ earning a reported $159.5 million in China alone, more than half of its global haul.

Cregger’s film has done the opposite, with its earnings split far more evenly between domestic and international audiences. Domestically, it has outgrossed all 7 previous live-action installments.

New trailer for Zach Cregger’s ‘RESIDENT EVIL.’ In theaters on September 18. https://t.co/6TMODXfTWg

— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 23, 2026

It has also completely transformed the franchise’s fortunes. The new film has more than quadrupled the $41.9 million worldwide total of the previous reboot, ‘Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City’.

The box office success has been matched by strong reviews. The film holds a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated ‘Resident Evil’ movie ever. It’s also been winning over longtime gaming fans who were skeptical of past adaptations. That combination of critical acclaim and audience enthusiasm has helped the film maintain strong momentum.

Sony Pictures has every reason to celebrate. The film was made on a reported $75 million production budget, meaning its global earnings have far exceeded that cost. Even with a 61% second-weekend drop to $23 million, the movie held onto second place against stiff competition. Its steady performance since then has carried it past the franchise record.

The story follows Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in a nonstop race for survival as one horrifying night collapses into chaos in Raccoon City. Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser co-star.

Cregger co-wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten. He has also expressed interest in adapting ‘Resident Evil 7: Biohazard’ and ‘Resident Evil Village’ in the future. The film arrives during a banner year for the genre.

While it still trails runaway hits ‘Obsession’ at $520 million and ‘Backrooms’ at $400.6 million, it has become the highest-grossing franchise horror movie of the year so far. With its record now secured, ‘Resident Evil’ looks set to keep climbing. For Sony, the question is no longer whether the reboot worked, but how quickly a sequel can follow.

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