Box Office: Zach Cregger's 'Resident Evil' Scares Up $26 Million on Opening Day

Primary Journalistic Dispatch & Direct Reporting

With fall right around the corner, movie theater-goers are ready to be spooked - and Sony's zombie horror " Resident Evil " has arrived at the perfect time.

In-Depth Developments & Factual Context

Some die-hard fans were unsure about Cregger's mission to create a new, original story for the reboot (and thus omit established characters from the "Resident Evil" video game universe), though it seems such concerns were for naught as early reviews and word-of-mouth for the film have been strong. While Variety 's Owen Gleiberman referred to the prior "Resident Evil" films as "hyperviolent, hyperkinetic video-game zombie sludge," he called Cregger's take on the IP a "sweetly executed piece of escapist trivia" that has "a quirky relatability."

Industry Impact & Strategic Analysis

The Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock-led " Practical Magic 2 " took second place on Friday, bringing in an additional $3.1 million in its second week. Over the weekend, the witchy sequel is expected to earn another $10.4 million, bringing the film's cumulative total to $48.2 million.

Forward Outlook & Market Perspective

" Spider-Man: Brand New Day " and "The Odyssey" both remained in the Friday top 5. Sony's comic book sequel landed at No. 2, bringing in another $1.53 million, while Universal's "The Odyssey" took in an additional $ 1.36 million for a fourth-place finish. Those additions bring "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" to a staggering $944.15 million domestic gross, and "The Odyssey" to $609.8 million.

Vertical's " The Weight ," another newcomer, pulled in around $1.17 million across 1,504 theaters on Friday, placing it fifth. Per rival estimates, the historical thriller is expected to make $2.3 million through its opening weekend. Director Padraic McKinley's debut feature stars Ethan Hawke as a battle-scarred veteran hired to smuggle a fortune in gold across 100 miles of impenetrable wilderness. Russell Crowe also stars.

From GKids, "Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom" opened to $540,000 across 2,173 theaters on Friday, per competitor numbers. The Steve Cox and Matthew Walker-directed animated flick is expected to bring in roughly $1.4 million through the weekend. Per the logline, the film follows Shaun the Sheep (voiced by Justin Fletcher) on Halloween Eve as "excitement turns to dismay when the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch. Shaun tries fixing it with science experiments, but things go wrong when a wild beast appears in the woods."

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