Resident Evil Reboot Surges, Zombies Pay Rent While Studios Celebrate

When the pandemic taught Hollywood that audiences could tolerate a few months of binge‑watching, the next big gamble was a zombie‑infested reboot.

Producer Zach Cregger decided that if the franchise could survive a video‑game remake, it could survive a box‑office assault. The result: a film that, like a well‑timed alarm, wakes up the theater‑goers and keeps them from checking their phones.

Austin Abrams, who had never played a Resident Evil title before, apparently learned that the secret to a good stunt is to pretend you’re being chased by a giant, flesh‑eating creature. The set was a labyrinth of fake blood and more CGI than a toddler’s Lego set.

Sony’s marketing team, still riding the wave of the original 1996 arcade hit, sold tickets like they were selling a new line of hand sanitizer: 'Get your hands on the horror before it’s gone.' The result: a $55 million opening that made the previous franchise’s record look like a typo.

If you’re wondering whether the zombie apocalypse will finally take over the world, the answer is no. It’s just a very successful film that proves people will still queue for popcorn when the world’s end is on the big screen.