The high cost of a blockbuster: a franchise's final cinematic strike
In short: Resident Evil: The Final Chapter achieved a massive financial feat, becoming the highest-grossing film in its franchise. Yet, behind the $314 million global haul lies a complex narrative of production delays, safety controversies, and a volatile reception that highlights the precarious nature of big-budget sequels.
Despite being the franchise's highest-grossing entry, the film faced a turbulent production cycle. Originally slated for a September 2014 release, it was delayed for over two years, eventually debuting in the United States in January 2017. The production was marked by significant logistical hurdles, including a one-year delay in South Africa due to lead actress Milla Jovovich's pregnancy and a shift in technical strategy; while previous entries were shot natively in 3D, this film was shot in 2D and post-converted to stereoscopic 3D to maximize camera mobility.
The production was also marred by severe safety incidents that led to legal repercussions. In September 2015, stuntwoman Olivia Jackson was critically injured when a camera crane malfunctioned, resulting in a medically induced coma and the eventual amputation of her arm. She later won a lawsuit against the producers, alleging that financial considerations were prioritized over safety. Additionally, a crew member was killed on set in December 2015 when crushed by a prop Hummer, highlighting the physical risks inherent in large-scale action filmmaking.
Financially, the film was a paradox. While it earned over $314 million worldwide against a $40 million budget, its North American opening of $13.9 million was the lowest-grossing debut in the franchise's history. However, it saw massive success in China, where it set a record for the biggest Friday-through-Sunday debut for an imported film, outperforming major titles like Transformers: Age of Extinction. Critics remained largely unimpressed, with a 38% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, illustrating the difficulty of balancing fan expectations with commercial demands.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/wealth-resident-evil-the-final-chapter.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Brands & companies · More in Wealth & Business · Latest · A–Z · All topics
