When it comes to zombie movies and taking on the virus-ridden undead,Resident Evilis a titan of the subgenre. The movie franchise that is based on the influential video game franchise of the same name has a whopping six movies under its belt along with afailed attempt at a reboot withResident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon Cityand a spin-off TV show by the same name. TheResident Evilmovies are the highest-grossing zombie film series to date, as well as the highest-grossing film series based on a video game. Though the movies are only loosely related to the game’s storylines,Paul W. S. Anderson’s writing and directing created fan favorites with the series grossing $1.2 billion to date. The series is full of loud, fun action, sci-fi weaponry, and bloodthirsty creatures all delivered with cheesy quotes in early 2000’s fashion. With titles containing no numbering system, it can get complicated when you’reattempting to watch the movies in order. We’ve put together this guide to reference as you navigate the zombified Resident Evil universe, by release date and chronological order.
Resident Evil Movies by Order of Release Date
Resident Evil
June 28, 2025
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
August 02, 2025
Resident Evil: Extinction
July 24, 2025
Resident Evil: Afterlife
June 24, 2025
Resident Evil: Retribution
July 08, 2025
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
July 29, 2025
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City(Reboot)
August 13, 2025
Resident Evil Movies in Chronological Order
Resident Evil (2002)
Based on the popular video game, Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez star as the leaders of a commando team who must break into “the hive,” a vast underground genetics laboratory operated by the powerful Umbrella Corporation. There, a deadly virus has been unleashed, killing the lab’s personnel and resurrecting them as the evil Un-dead. The team has just three hours to shut down the lab’s supercomputer and close the facility before the virus threatens to overrun the Earth.
Milla Jovovichstars as Alice, a security operative for The Umbrella Corporation who is ordered to guard the secret entrance to an underground lab called The Hive, a genetic research lab that accidentally unleashed the deadly T-virus amongst their staff. The building’s AI security system, The Red Queen, kills every living thing inside in an attempt to control the spreading infection. The virus causes the corpses of those killed to become reanimated and driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh. A power failure leads to the 500 zombified employees being released as Alice and her team fight for survival.
Although the film received less than stellar reviews with critics noting the volume of the action and video-game-command style dialogue, it quickly became a cult classic with many raving about the bold performance by Jovovich as the sexy, stoic and unassailable protagonist Alice.
Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
A deadly virus from a secret Umbrella Corporation laboratory underneath Raccoon City is exposed to the world. Umbrella seals off the city to contain the virus, creating a ghost town where everyone trapped inside turns into a mutant zombie. Alice (Milla Jovovich), a survivor from Umbrella’s secret lab, meets former Umbrella security officer Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory) and mercenary Carlos Oliviera (Oded Fehr). Together, they search for a scientist (Jared Harris) who might be able to help.
Anderson returns to write but not direct in the second installment of the franchise, with the role being filled byAlexander Wittfor his directorial debut. This film has been named as the best and worst of the series.While polarizing due to its focus on action rather than storyline, the film features adrenaline-fueled scenes as well as character moves that were reenacted from the game series and utilizes camera angles from in-game cut-scenes.
The film picks up directly following the events of the previous movie as citizens rush to evacuate the grim Raccoon City. Alice, along with Jill and Peyton, two other survivors, are attempting to escape before the city is incinerated by a nuclear missile in a further attempt to contain the rapidly spreading virus that is now plaguing the remaining residents. A researcher offers the operatives details of an extraction point in exchange for his missing daughter’s rescue. The extent of Umbrella’s bioweapon experimenting is revealed when eyeless mutated soldiers are released into the streets. Alice finds that she herself has been infected with a form of the virus and utilizes her new powers in an epic fight.
Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
Survivors of the Raccoon City catastrophe travel across the Nevada desert, hoping to make it to Alaska. Alice joins the caravan and their fight against the evil Umbrella Corp.
Anderson returns to write whileRussel Mulcahydirects the third film of the series,Resident Evil: Extinction. Regardless of low critical reviews the film was number one in US box offices its opening weekend and grossed over $148 million worldwide. As the T-virus spreads across the earth turning humanity at large into mindless, hungry undead, a group of survivors from the desolate Raccoon City travel through the Mojave desert in an attempt to reach Alaska and escape the impending zombie apocalypse. Continued experiments carried out by The Umbrella Corporationcause more terrifying mutations in the infectedthat make them even more deadly. Alice discovers the extent of her new powers brought on by the virus, and that her blood may hold a cure. She decides to seek revenge on The Umbrella Corporation, specifically Albert Wesker, a villain from the games introduced as a new character in this film.
Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
In a world overrun with the walking dead, Alice (Milla Jovovich) continues her battle against Umbrella Corp., rounding up survivors along the way. Joined by an old friend, Alice and her group set out for a rumored safe haven in Los Angeles. Instead of sanctuary, they find the city overrun with zombies, and a trap about to spring.
Paul W.S. Anderson reprises his role as both writer and director in this 3D installment of the series set in Tokyo, Japan. For her role as Alice, Milla Jovovich’s performance won her the Scream Award for Best Science Fiction Actress andResident Evil: Afterlifebecame the second highest-grossing film of the series raking in over $300 million.
After discovering that the Umbrella Corporation has been creating clones of her, Alice and her copies descend upon the Umbrella Tokyo headquarters. During the attack, Alice is injected with a serum that removes her new powers. Albert Wesker narrowly escapes their clutches and Alice sets off to find other survivors on her way to Alaska. Chris Redfield, a primary character of the game series, is introduced into the films as Alice finds that Alaska doesn’t hold what they had hoped.
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
As Umbrella Corp.’s deadly T-virus continues to turn the world’s population into legions of flesh-eating zombies, Alice (Milla Jovovich), the human race’s last hope, awakes deep within Umbrella’s secret operations facility. The further she delves into the complex, the more of her mysterious past is unveiled. Her global hunt for those responsible for the outbreak leads to a mind-blowing revelation; Aided by friends old and new, Alice fights to escape from a world on the edge of oblivion.
Leon S. Kennedy from the game series is added to the character list in the fifth installment of the film franchise where he assists in the rescue of Alice who is now tasked with escaping Umbrella’s underwater testing facility with the help of her nemesis, Albert Wesker. Jill Valentine, an operative who has helped Alice in the past is now under the control of the Red Queen AI system. Alice must fight her friend and attempt to save humanity from the rogue AI system, whose goal is to eliminate all life on Earth. Asuccess at the box office, the film received praise from critics for its visual effects and fight choreography.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017)
The T-virus unleashed by the evil Umbrella Corp. has spread to every corner of the globe, infesting the planet with zombies, demons and monsters. Alice (Milla Jovovich), a former Umbrella employee turned rogue warrior, joins her friends on a last-chance mission to storm the company’s headquarters located deep underneath what used to be Raccoon City. But the Red Queen (Ever Anderson) knows that Alice is coming, and the final battle will determine if the rest of mankind lives or dies.
The story comes full circle as Alice returns to The Hive below Raccoon City inResident Evil: The Final Chapter. While the rich and powerful hide safely in cryogenic chambers, Alice and the other survivors must race against time to release the antivirus before The Umbrella Corporation can unleash the T-virus and wipe out what is left of humanity. Alice, faced with betrayal by a clone of her ally, learns the truth about who she is, and her final battle is with her own mortality. Thebest critically reviewedand the highest-grossing film in the series did not disappoint longtime fans of the franchise.
The New Franchise
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
Welcome to Raccoon City, once the booming home of pharmaceutical giant Umbrella Corp. The company’s exodus left the city a wasteland, a dying town with great evil brewing below the surface. When that evil is unleashed, a group of survivors must work together to uncover the truth behind Umbrella and make it through the night.
The Final Chapter was not the final chapter after all. 4 years later,Welcome to Raccoon Citywas released in November 2021 starringKaya Scodelario(Maze Runner) as Claire Redfield,Hannah John-Kamen(Game of Thrones) as Jill Valentine andTom Hopper(The Umbrella Academy) as Albert Wesker. The seventh filmdiverged from the storyline of the previous six as it follows the games more closely. WhileWelcome to Raccoon Cityclosely followed the events of the first twoResident Evilgames, while also putting their own twist on the story, it seems that this new attempt to reboot the franchise didn’t take off the way that fans hoped.
Similarly,Netflix’sResident Evilseries, which centered around Albert Wesker (played byLance Reddick) also only lasted one season before it was cancelled by the streaming service.
The Resident Evil franchise is available to watch on Tubi in the U.S.
