There were no blockbusters on this September frame but, after last weekend’s dismal returns, it’s hard to feel disappointed. Aided by 3D technology, Resident Evil: Retribution reigned with $21.1 million – more than twice what The Possession earned in first place last weekend. Finding Nemo 3D also had a ticket-price advantage although, in this case, the 2003 Pixar classic could not match the gross of last year’s 3D The Lion King re-release.

In case you’ve missed any of the installments of the Resident Evil franchise since its feature film inception back in 2002, we’ve got a retrospective video to get you caught up before Resident Evil: Retribution debuts in theaters September 14th.  The fifth iteration, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, follows the continuing adventures of Alice (Milla Jovovich) and resistance fighters battling against the Umbrella Corporation and the undead.  Resident Evil: Retribution also stars Michelle Rodriguez, Sienna Guillory, Oded Fehr, Boris Kodjoe, Bingbing Li and Kevin Durand.  Hit the jump to check out the video recap.

Unlike the last Friday of summer – when underachievers Machete and The American battled for number one – the first weekend of fall has given us one unequivocal winner: Resident Evil: Afterlife. The fourth installment in writer/producer Paul WS Anderson’s successful franchise earned an estimated $10.9 million: a Resident Evil record. The series’ previous two features, Extinction in 2007 and Apocalypse in 2004, both opened below $10 million. Of course, considering that Afterlife was the sole wide release of the weekend and that 62% of its 3,203 locations screened the film in its original 3D format (it was shot, not converted, in 3D), that estimate could have been higher… ticket price premium and all. Still, RE: Afterlife is now poised to break its previous weekend record as well – with three day projections coming in at just under $30 million. Full details when you check back tomorrow.