Erik Gruenwedel

September 18, 2026

Sony’s relaunch of the long-running “Resident Evil” movie franchise that has produced 11 releases since 2002, brings together noted director Zach Cregger, whose last year’s sleeper hit, Warner Bros. Pictures’ horror thriller Weapons, generated more than $270 million at the global box office, to a built-in moviegoer base.

Resident Evil (2026), starring an ensemble cast led by Austin Abrams, generated $8.8 million in Sept. 17 preview screenings — to jumpstart a projected opening-weekend tally of $58.5 million across North American screens, according to new data from BoxOfficeReport.com.

The total would be more than 34% larger than the $43.5 million debut of Weapons.

“The already surging momentum … is also getting a last-minute boost from the film’s terrific critical reviews,” analyst Daniel Garris wrote in a post.

Last weekend’s No. 1 film, Warner’s Practical Magic 2, does look to be going over better with moviegoers than with critics. The Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman sequel is projected to finish at No. 2 with $11.8 million in ticket sales.

Sony’s box office juggernaut Spider-Man: Brand New Day is expected to add $5.3 million in eighth weekend revenue to finish at No. 3.

Three other new releases for the weekend include GKIDS Films’ Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom with a projected $2.5 million in ticket sales; Vertical Entertainment’s Ethan Hawke actioner The Weight (projected $2 million), and Fathom Entertainment’s 40th anniversary re-release of 1986’s animated The Transformers: The Movie (projected $2.4 million).

Returning box office releases include Ketchup Entertainment’s Coyote vs. Acme with a projected  $4.1 million in fourth weekend projected revenue; Universal’s The Odyssey ($3.9 million in 10th weekend ticket sales); Angel Studios Runner ($3 million in second-weekend revenue); Roadside Attractions’ Buddy ($2.1 million in fourth weekend revenue); and Sony/Screen Gems’ Insidious: Out of the Further ($1.9 million in fifth weekend revenue).

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