Zach Cregger’s 2026 Resident Evil has officially become the highest-grossing film in the franchise’s history, raking in $320.2 million globally after four weekends in theaters — a total that surpasses the previous record holder, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, which grossed $312.2 million worldwide. The film, written and directed by Cregger, marks his third foray into horror as a filmmaker, following the critical and commercial success of Barbarian (2022). This latest installment, set in the iconic video game series, follows medical courier Bryan (played by Austin Abrams) as he navigates a Raccoon City overrun by mutant zombies while attempting to complete a high-stakes delivery. It’s not just a win for Sony Pictures Entertainment, it’s a seismic shift in how audiences perceive genre reinvention. The movie has already outperformed every prior live-action entry in the franchise, including the 2021 reboot Welcome to Raccoon City, which earned just $41.9 million globally by the end of its run. Even Weapons, Cregger’s own 2023 hit, now sits behind this new benchmark, having grossed $270.1 million. That makes Resident Evil the highest-grossing film in Cregger’s career. A feat that includes his 2009 co-directed comedy Miss March, which earned only $4.6 million worldwide. The film’s domestic earnings stand at $138.5 million, with $181.7 million coming from international markets. At a production budget of $75 million, the movie needed roughly $187.5 million to break even, a threshold it cleared within three full weeks. With no major horror franchise sequels scheduled before year-end, the record appears secure. While it hasn’t yet surpassed the year’s top horror hits. Obsession ($520 million) and Backrooms ($400.6 million), it remains the highest-grossing franchise horror film of 2026. It has also outpaced other notable entries like Scream 7 ($208 million), Insidious: Out of the Further ($169.5 million), and The Strangers: Chapter 3 ($11.1 million). The momentum isn’t slowing. And if the past is any guide, Cregger’s journey from sketch comedy to blockbuster director may be just beginning.
Photo via Screen RantZach Cregger’s Resident Evil Smashes Franchise Box Office Record
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil has officially become the highest-grossing film in the franchise’s history — and it’s not stopping.
In this story
Live site hype
around 2 reading right now · 311 today
Reported from
- IMDb — Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Officially Smashes $1.5B Franchise’s Biggest Box Office Record
- Screen Rant — Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Officially Smashes $1.5B Franchise’s Biggest Box Office Record
This article was written by the CutMirchi desk from the reporting above. Facts are attributed to their original publishers.
Read next

Austin Abrams Reveals He Was Stunned By Resident Evil's Ending
Austin Abrams says he was shocked reading the script for Zach Cregger's Resident Evil, in which his character Bryan is infected and transforms by the film's final act. Spoilers ahead.

Resident Evil Reboot Sets Franchise Record with $55 Million Opening
Sony’s new Resident Evil, directed by Zach Cregger and starring Austin Abrams, earned $26.3 million Friday and is set for a $55 million weekend – the biggest opening ever.

Resident Evil Reboot Opens To Franchise-Best $55 Million
Zach Cregger's Resident Evil reboot pulled in $26.3 million on Friday and is tracking toward a $53-55 million opening weekend, the biggest launch in the franchise's 24-year history, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Does horror keep working in India? The coverage mostly shows Hollywood doing the work
CutMirchi's recent reporting says little about homegrown Indian horror hits, but it does show Hollywood horror imports performing well on Indian screens.


Be the first to comment
Join the argument. No password, just your email or a passkey.