Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil faced an uphill battle on the path to the big screen — but after months of canon debate and outcry from die-hard Leon S. Kennedy truthers, the reboot has defied the odds and delivered one of the best video game adaptations of all time. Fans of the long-standing game franchise and normies alike are loving the film, and for good reason. Resident Evil might fudge a few canon details by setting this story in the modern day, but it’s a small nitpick for a film that otherwise reads like a top-to-bottom love letter to this 30-year-old saga. Cregger is clearly fond of the Resident Evil franchise, and that love — paired with a solid, straightforward story — has paid off in ways the on-screen RE saga has never reached before.
Resident Evil is a strong contender for the feel-bad blockbuster of the year, but it’s officially a blockbuster nonetheless. Cregger’s latest is making history for the franchise, surpassing projections to take home $60 million domestically and $108.3 million worldwide in its opening weekend.
