Resident Evil is back, and Sony Pictures and Zach Cregger still have two major markets waiting in the wings. According […]
Resident Evil is back, and Sony Pictures and Zach Cregger still have two major markets waiting in the wings.
According to Exhibitor Relations, the filmmaker’s reboot has reached an estimated $196 million worldwide in its second weekend, putting it within striking distance of $200 million.
The film added $27 million internationally across 65 markets this weekend, down 45%, bringing its overseas total to $93 million.
But here’s the particularly exciting part: China opens October 5, followed by Japan on October 9.
Those markets have delivered enormous business for this franchise before. According to Box Office Mojo, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter earned approximately $159.5 million in China and $36.5 million in Japan. Together, those two countries accounted for nearly $196 million of that film’s $312.2 million worldwide haul.
That doesn’t mean Cregger’s movie will automatically repeat those numbers, but it gives you an idea of how much potential is still sitting on the table. It’s already approaching $200 million without either territory contributing a dollar.
And this comes after a $108.3 million global opening, including a franchise-best $60 million domestic debut.
I said before opening weekend that the projections were underselling this thing. Now we’re looking at nearly $200 million after two weekends, with two historically huge markets still to come. If those audiences show up, this could launch the movie into another stratosphere.
Resident Evil is officially back. The question now is just how fucking big this comeback gets.
