This year has been an incredible one for horror films. Surprise hits like Obsession and Backrooms completely took over the box office despite their modest budgets, while projects like Send Help were released to rave reviews. But amidst all the films that have successfully terrorized audiences in the best way possible, Zach Cregger's Resident Evil (2026) has been a surprising standout.
Prior to its release, Resident Evil was fighting an uphill battle. Longtime fans of the saga weren't fully on board with the idea of a completely original protagonist taking the spot that normally goes to the likes of Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield. Moreover, video game adaptations usually have a hard time bringing the magic of the source material to a new medium. Fortunately, not only did Resident Evil receive overwhelmingly positive reviews, but it also spread its reach as if it were the T-Virus and completely took over the box office.
Zach Cregger's Resident Evil (2026) becomes the highest-grossing movie in the RE franchise
On Nov. 1, 2026, Zach Cregger's Resident Evil (2026) officially reached $400 million at the global box office, with $157 million coming from U.S. theaters and $243 million being raised internationally. Moreover, the horror film is the highest-grossing entry in the franchise, which includes six films starring Milla Jovovich and a 2021 reboot.
For reference, here is the box office gross of every Resident Evil movie and how Zach Cregger's installment ranks among them:
- Resident Evil (2026) - $400 million
- Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016) - $312 million
- Resident Evil: Afterlife - $300 million
- Resident Evil: Retribution - $240 million
- Resident Evil: Extinction - $147 million
- Resident Evil: Apocalypse - $129 million
- Resident Evil (2002) - $103 million
- Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City - $42 million
This is an impressive milestone for any R-rated horror project. After all, movies that tend to dominate the box office — like Toy Story 5 or Spider-Man: Brand New Day — usually try to appeal to the children's demographic. Currently, Resident Evil is the seventh-biggest R-rated horror film ever, but it could surpass Prometheus' $403 million gross to take the sixth spot on the list.
The success of Resident Evil has raised questions about whether a sequel could be possible. On the one hand, director Zach Cregger has stated that he wouldn't do a franchise movie again due to how "unpleasant" the conversation about his project was leading up to its release. On the other hand, he has also revealed that he has ideas for where his Resident Evil story could go next, so it seems it could go either way.
If a follow-up to Resident Evil were made, chances are it won't come our way anytime soon. Zach Cregger is now working on his next film, The Flood, which is set to star Jennifer Lawrence and be released on Aug. 11, 2028. With that in mind, the earliest he could release a sequel to Resident Evil (2026) would be in 2029, but even that seems like a stretch.
While the future of the franchise on the big screen remains up in the air, it's nice to know that the success of Resident Evil has sparked conversation about a potential follow-up. Interestingly, the film also resulted in an increase of over 50% in sales of the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 remakes, which Capcom put on sale ahead of the movie's release.
On the bright side, if you're eager for more terrifying stories set in Raccoon City, then the Resident Evil Veronica remake will be released in 2027. Moreover, Capcom is working on story DLC for Resident Evil Requiem. Terrifying days lie ahead for Resident Evil fans, and we can't wait to see how it all pans out.
Resident Evil is now playing in theaters.
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