Sony’s zombie‑laden Resident Evil stormed into theatres on Friday, pulling in $26.3 million from 3,684 screens. That haul made it the top‑grossing new release of the day and set the stage for a weekend total near $55 million – the strongest opening the series has ever seen.

The film marks director Zach Cregger’s first foray into the long‑running video‑game franchise. Cregger, who previously delivered the 2025 thriller Weapons, teams up with writer Shay Hatten to tell a fresh tale centred on a medical courier, played by Austin Abrams, racing against a viral outbreak in Raccoon City General Hospital. By sidestepping many of the series’ legacy characters, the duo hoped to give fans a new angle, a gamble that appears to have paid off.

Early audience reaction has been largely positive. Word‑of‑mouth reports describe the movie as a lean, fast‑moving horror ride that balances gore with a surprisingly relatable protagonist. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman, who has followed the franchise since its first film, called the new entry “sweetly executed” and praised its quirky tone.

The $26.3 million opening dwarfs the $26 million earned by Resident Evil: Afterlife in 2010 over its entire opening weekend. Even the 2022 reboot, which revived the brand after a long lull, fell short of that mark. Sony’s gamble on a spring‑time release appears to have caught audiences looking for a chill before the holiday season.

Resident Evil’s debut also pushed other titles down the Friday chart. Nicole Kidman‑ and Sandra Bullock‑led Practical Magic 2 managed $3.1 million in its second week, while Marvel’s Spider‑Man: Brand New Day added $1.53 million, keeping it comfortably in the top five. Universal’s historical thriller The Weight opened to $1.17 million, and GKids’ animated Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom earned $540,000.

Industry analysts say the strong start could boost Sony’s fall slate, which includes several franchise sequels and original projects. If the film sustains its momentum, the $55 million weekend could translate into a domestic total north of $150 million, putting it in contention with the studio’s biggest recent hits.

For fans of the games, the omission of classic characters like Jill Valentine or Leon S. Kennedy may still sting, but the fresh narrative seems to have won over enough viewers to make the box‑office numbers speak louder than nostalgia debates.

The next box‑office report, due Monday, will confirm whether the film can hold its lead through Sunday night and how it stacks up against the global market. Until then, the horror community will be watching the numbers as closely as the on‑screen blood.