Resident Evil is a huge franchise that began in the gaming world when it was released in March 1996 by Capcom and developed for the PlayStation at the time. It didn't take long for the first game to become a success and attract other forms of media, such as the film series that began in 2002! But are you up to date with Resident Evil in chronological order?
The film saga is divided into 7 films, with different directors, so today we're going to help you find out what the order of the Resident Evil films is and also which Resident Evil films have the best reviews from critics, according to Rotten Tomatoes. Let's go!
Resident Evil: The Cursed Guest (2002)
Starting off our list of Resident Evil movies in chronological order, we have the 2002 film called Resident Evil: The Cursed Guest, which introduces us to a universe with elements inspired by the game, but with an original narrative and direction by Paul WS Anderson. In the plot, we meet the Umbrella Corporation and, consequently, an experiment that goes wrong and releases a very dangerous virus, known as the T-Virus.
The protagonist is called Alice (Milla Jovovich) and finds herself in a scenario where she has no memories and is surrounded by soldiers who need to contain the infection within the facility. The virus is known to turn people and creatures into zombies, so what we see is a journey of survival filled with secrets and mysteries involving Umbrella.
The film, despite presenting a famous story in games, received a critical approval rating of 36%, but the public really liked what they saw and this resulted in a score of 67%, evidencing its commercial success.
Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
Continuing the story of the first film, we have the second Resident Evil in chronological order, called Apocalypse. As it is a direct sequel to the first film, we continue following Alice's journey to survive in a world that has been taken over by the T-virus. Raccoon City, the city where the plot takes place, is infested with zombies and creatures, but Umbrella tries to contain the outbreak.
Alice, in turn, discovers some special abilities and finds allies like Jill Valentine and Carlos Oliveira. The protagonist ends up facing intense battles, while the urgency to survive is constant. The film divided opinions, having a 18% approval rating from critics and 60% from the public, showing that the film is already beginning to gather fans.
Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
Resident Evil in chronological order continues with Extinction, the third film in the saga. In it, Alice continues in this post-apocalyptic scenario where the world has been devastated by the T-Virus. This time, the setting is different: a desert resulting from the spread of the virus! The protagonist's abilities are more enhanced and she becomes the leader of the survivors as they try to escape not only from the zombies, but also from Umbrella's forces.
However, the corporation is trying to develop a cure for this virus, is it possible? The film presented a more deadly and post-apocalyptic scenario, which made the critics' rating rise a little, going to 24%, while fans gave it an approval of 58%.
Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
In 2010, the franchise gained another film and Resident Evil in chronological order maintained the story of Alice and the Umbrella Corporation. This time, Alice is captured by the mysterious corporation and is taken to their facilities, where she once again has to fight for her life. The protagonist tries to escape from prison, while once again joining other survivors and trying to prevent more T-Virus from being spread.
Alice also discovers new abilities, perfects them, and fights Nemesis and other dangerous mutant creatures. The combat scenes here are also more dynamic and polished, which may have led to a mixed review in which critics rated it 21% and audiences rated it 48%.
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
Resident Evil: Retribution is another film that follows Alice, who finds herself trapped in one of the Umbrella Corporation's underground facilities. This time, the use of technology has caused the protagonist to find herself in the midst of simulations that replicate urban settings and classic battles with mutants and zombies. A highlight of the plot is that Alice finally discovers more about her memories, understanding that they have been manipulated and that there is a large conspiracy behind it.
The plot is about trying to escape from prison with the help of allies and survivors, while we have combat scenes and moments full of surprises. According to the Rotten Tomatoes, this Resident Evil film in chronological order received 28% critical approval rating and 51% audience approval rating.
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017)
Despite being titled “The Final Chapter,” this is the penultimate Resident Evil film in chronological order, released in 2017. The film delivers the conclusion of Alice’s journey, who has finally returned to Raccoon City and is willing to give her life in a final battle against the Umbrella Corporation! The corporation may destroy what’s left of humanity, but the protagonist reunites with old allies and new characters to put a definitive end to Umbrella.
Alice also comes face to face with her origins, but it ended up not pleasing the critics very much, who saw this film as “more of the same”. This resulted in a score of 38% from critics and 47% from the public, on Rotten Tomatoes.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
To finish off the Resident Evil list in chronological order, we have the latest one, released in 2021: Welcome to Raccoon City! The film is actually a reboot that tries to be more faithful to the games, showing a different point of view than what we've seen so far. In it, the plot takes place in 1998, while Claire Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy – survivors – are trying to escape the city that is infested with zombies and in ruins. Fans may notice references to the events of the first and second games in the franchise!
Despite being more faithful to the original story, the film divided opinions as it received mixed reviews on Rotten Tomatoes: critics gave it a 30% approval rating, while fans gave it a 65% rating!
Conclusion
As we can see, this has become one of the most popular game-inspired sagas of the last few decades, with a total of 7 films set in this dark, post-apocalyptic universe. With so many films, it is necessary to know how to watch Resident Evil in chronological order and enjoy this franchise to the fullest!
And if you like movies, check out: 9 Actors Who Refuse to Work Together!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Resident Evil movies based on the games?
The Resident Evil films are set in the same universe as the games, but have an original story that ended up moving away from the game. However, the film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) tries to bring greater fidelity to fans.
What's the best way to watch the Resident Evil franchise?
The best way to watch this franchise is to follow the chronological order indicated in the list above!
Will there be new Resident Evil movies in the future?
According to news only for this site (The Hollywood Reporter), director Zach Cregger is thinking about releasing a new Resident Evil reboot, which would be the second reboot of the franchise.
What are the main changes in the story of the films compared to the games?
The Resident Evil films had the freedom to change aspects of the story in relation to the games, which resulted in some differences such as: Alice, the main character, does not appear in the games; The narrative surrounding the Umbrella Corporation and the T-Virus changes, as the game delves deeper into the experiments and consequences of the T-Virus; The horror and suspense of the games ended up being exchanged for action in the fights; The modification of some characters that appear in the games and films; The change of important locations and events.
