Resident Evil Movies in Order: Complete Watch Guide

Anyone who’s tried to figure out the Resident Evil movie timeline already knows it’s a mess of overlapping continuities. This guide lays out every film in release and chronological order, so you can pick your path without spoilers.

Live-action films in the main series: 6 ·
Animated films in the franchise: 5 ·
First film release year: 2002 ·
Highest-grossing film (worldwide): $312 million (The Final Chapter) ·
Reboot film release year: 2022 ·
Total franchise box office: $1.2 billion

Here’s a quick reference of key franchise numbers:

What is the correct order for Resident Evil movies?

Release order for live-action films

The six live-action films starring Milla Jovovich were released over a 14-year span. Here’s the exact sequence according to Rotten Tomatoes (editorial guide):

• Resident Evil (2002) – directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, introduces Alice
• Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) – adds Jill Valentine and Nemesis
• Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) – post-apocalyptic setting, Claire Redfield appears
• Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) – first film shot in 3D, Wesker as antagonist
• Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) – features clones and returns to Raccoon City
• Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017) – concludes Alice’s story

Release order for animated films

The animated films run on a separate timeline tied to the video games. Rotten Tomatoes (editorial guide) lists them as:

• Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008) – CG film starring Leon and Claire
• Resident Evil: Damnation (2012) – Leon infiltrates Eastern Europe
• Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017) – teams Chris Redfield, Leon, and Rebecca
• Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (2021) – animated series, not a feature
• Resident Evil: Death Island (2023) – unites Jill, Chris, Leon, Claire, and Rebecca

The implication: new viewers should start by picking a continuity (live-action or animated) and watch each in release order.

What is the correct way to watch Resident Evil?

Chronological vs release order

Release order is the simplest for newcomers — it preserves narrative callbacks and production quality progression. The live-action films are internally chronological: each sequel picks up directly after the previous. Animated films are also best watched in release order because later entries reference earlier events. Popverse (franchise analysis) recommends release order for the Jovovich series and suggests treating the animated films as a separate binge.

Where animated films fit

The animated films slot into the game timeline rather than the live-action movies. For example, the animated series Infinite Darkness is set between the games Resident Evil 4 and 5. Watching them after the live-action series won’t confuse continuity because they share no story threads. Rotten Tomatoes (editorial guide) confirms this separation.

Are all Resident Evil movies connected?

Live-action series continuity

The six Jovovich films form a single continuous story. Each movie ends on a cliffhanger that the next resolves. The only exception is Retribution, which retcons some earlier deaths through cloning. Popverse (franchise analysis) notes that the series concludes definitively in The Final Chapter.

Animated films and game continuity

All five animated features share the video game universe. They feature game protagonists like Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and Jill Valentine, and their plots fit between numbered game entries. Popverse (franchise analysis) clarifies that these films are canon to the games but not to the live-action movies.

Reboot status

Welcome to Raccoon City (2022) is a strict reboot — it resets the timeline, adapts the first two games more faithfully, and features an entirely new cast. Popverse (franchise analysis) confirms it shares no continuity with the Jovovich films.

The pattern: each continuity serves a different audience.

Are the Resident Evil games connected to the movies?

Differences between game and film storyline

The live-action movies take major creative liberties: the character Alice (Milla Jovovich) does not exist in the games, and the Umbrella Corporation’s downfall is rewritten. Rotten Tomatoes (editorial guide) describes the films as “loosely inspired” by the source material.

Shared characters and events

Some characters — Jill Valentine, Claire Redfield, Albert Wesker — appear in both mediums, but their roles and fates differ. The animated films are much closer to game lore, even adapting specific cutscenes. Popverse (franchise analysis) notes that the animated series Infinite Darkness was co-produced with Capcom, ensuring continuity with the games.

The trade-off: gamers will find more recognition in the animated films, while movie-only viewers can enjoy the live-action series as an alternate-universe action saga.

Is there a 7th movie of Resident Evil?

Number of films in main Jovovich series

There are exactly six live-action films in the Milla Jovovich series. The Final Chapter (2017) explicitly closes Alice’s story. No seventh film has been announced. Popverse (franchise analysis) lists the series as complete.

Reboot as potential new series

Welcome to Raccoon City was intended to launch a new film series, but despite earning $42 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, no sequel has been greenlit. The reboot’s mixed reception — it holds a 29% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes — may have stalled plans.

Why did Welcome to Raccoon City flop?

Box office performance

Produced on a $25 million budget, Welcome to Raccoon City earned roughly $42 million worldwide. While not a financial disaster, it underperformed compared to the Jovovich films, which regularly crossed $100 million. Popverse (franchise analysis) points to the crowded release calendar.

Critical reception

The film received mixed reviews. Critics praised its fidelity to the games but criticized the rushed pacing and lack of a central character. Rotten Tomatoes (editorial guide) notes the consensus: “A more faithful adaptation, but not necessarily a better movie.”

Fan and audience reactions

Fans on Reddit were split — some appreciated the game-accurate atmosphere, others missed the bombastic action of the Jovovich series. Audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes sit at 65%, indicating a polarized reception.

Six films, one clear pattern: each continuity serves a different audience. The live-action series is pure Hollywood sci-fi horror; the animated films reward game fans; the reboot aimed for nostalgia but missed the mark.

Six live-action films, one key difference: each entry shifted tone and setting while keeping Alice at the center.

Franchise timeline

• 2002 – Resident Evil (first live-action film) Rotten Tomatoes (editorial guide)
• 2004 – Resident Evil: Apocalypse
• 2007 – Resident Evil: Extinction
• 2008 – Resident Evil: Degeneration (first animated)
• 2010 – Resident Evil: Afterlife
• 2012 – Resident Evil: Retribution
• 2017 – Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
• 2017 – Resident Evil: Vendetta
• 2021 – Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (series)
• 2022 – Welcome to Raccoon City (reboot)
• 2023 – Resident Evil: Death Island

The pattern: each new release has only deepened the split between continuities, giving fans multiple entry points but no single timeline.

For anyone diving into the Resident Evil film universe, the choice is clear: pick the continuity that matches your tastes. Fans of high-octane action should start with the 2002 original and follow Alice’s arc straight through The Final Chapter. Game purists will find more satisfaction in the animated films, which respect the source material. And if you’re curious about the reboot, treat it as a separate entry — just don’t expect a sequel anytime soon.

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