Film director Zach Cregger is on the verge of the biggest commercial success of his career after his critically acclaimed Resident Evil adaptation rocketed to new box office heights. According to Deadline, the horror film is expected to surpass his current highest-grossing feature, Weapons—which earned $270 million worldwide—by the end of this week or sooner. Currently sitting at $247.6 million globally, the game adaptation has found an unexpected and powerful engine for growth in its newly opened Chinese market.
The surge is largely attributable to Resident Evil’s theatrical debut in China on October 5, a territory where video game adaptations have historically resonated strongly with audiences. The film is projected to pull in roughly $35 million during its opening week there alone, a figure that should push the movie past $280 million worldwide and cement Cregger’s status as a commercial force in mainstream cinema.
A Chinese Market That Has Long Been a Lifeline
The Chinese market has long been a financial backbone for the Resident Evil film franchise. The previous series, helmed by director Paul W.S. Anderson, delivered phenomenal numbers across the region. The Final Chapter, released in 2016, grossed $159.5 million in China alone—accounting for more than 51% of its $312.2 million worldwide total and making it the highest-grossing Resident Evil film to date.
Cregger’s iteration still has ground to cover before it can overtake that benchmark, though its current trajectory suggests a strong run ahead. The contrast between the two eras of the franchise is notable: while Anderson’s entries leaned heavily on international markets for their biggest hauls, Cregger’s more grounded, character
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