Sony Pictures’ Resident Evil has set a new franchise box office record with a $26. 3 million opening day from 3,684 locations. According to TheWrap, this performance marks the best critical and audience reception ever for a film based on Capcom’s horror video game series. The film is currently on course for a domestic opening weekend of $53 million or more.
From this start, Sony is projecting a domestic opening weekend between $53 and $55 million. S. That 2010 figure equates to roughly $40. 9 million after inflation adjustment.
The film’s strong box office performance contrasts with the Milla Jovovich series from the 2000s, which generated decent revenue amidst weak reviews. Cregger’s adaptation holds a 96% critics score and 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also earned a B+ on CinemaScore and a 4. 5/5 rating on PostTrak. The production carried a $75 million budget, with TriStar Pictures, Constantin Films, and Davis Films as producers and Vertigo Entertainment as a co-producer.
In other weekend news, Warner Bros. /Alcon’s Practical Magic 2 is facing a 65% drop from its $30 million opening weekend. It is estimated to earn $10. 4 million in its second weekend, bringing its domestic total to $48. 2 million against a $75 million budget. With Resident Evil providing more than half of all grosses, the overall weekend total is set to reach $111 million.