Best Resident Evil Movies, Ranked

Summary

• Resident Evil movies vary in quality, but many are still enjoyable for fans due to references and callbacks.
• CG films in the franchise are often regarded more favorably for focusing on game characters and lore.
• Individual movie highlights include Afterlife for action, Vendetta for lore, and Death Island for a fan-favorite reunion.

While the majority of Resident Evil games have been received positively by fans, the movies are much more of a mixed bag. Several Resident Evil movies have been released over the last two decades, and that includes both Paul W. Anderson’s live-action movies and the CG films. Though the Anderson set of movies, which feature Milla Jovovich as the original character Alice, are often looked down upon, there’s still one or two that make for an enjoyable watch, especially for fans who can recognize the references and callbacks.

The CG films, on the other hand, are often looked back on more fondly, not only because they focus on characters from the games but also due to them being canon, meaning they usually contain pretty intriguing bits of lore and character development. With that being said, let’s take a closer look at which of these movies are most worth watching and how they each stack up in terms of overall quality and memorability.

Updated February 11, 2024, by Ewan Lewis: With Death Island making a big impression on fans after its release in 2023 and seemingly ending off the CG set of movies, it feels like the perfect time to go back and re-analyze current fan opinions towards the films. Additionally, now that there have been a few years between the end of the Paul W. Anderson movies, reception towards those films has always started to change a little bit. With that in mind, it’s time to re-evaluate these interesting pieces of external media to see how they all compare in modern times.

8

Resident Evil: Afterlife

Afterlife Is A Movie That Can Be Enjoyed Without Needing To Think Too Much About The Story

• Release Date: September 2010
• Length: 97 minutes

Simply put, Resident Evil: Afterlife isn’t exactly known for its compelling story or amazing character arcs. Instead, many people remember it for its bizarre action sequences, which, while very outlandish, are also a ton of fun to watch. The movie is very loosely based on the fifth game and, as a result, features Chris Redfield, Wesker, and even a few familiar enemies, including the dreaded Executioner.

Because Alice had essentially become superhuman by this point in the live-action storyline, it allows her and her clones to partake in a plethora of fast-paced action sequences, which are hard to look away from. Again, the story and characters aren’t anything to write home about, but Afterlife is still worth a watch for anyone who simply wants to see some good old-fashioned zombie-slaying action.

7

Resident Evil: Vendetta

Vendetta Features Some Nice Lore Nuggets And A Fantastic Villain

• Release Date: May 2017
• Length: 97 minutes

Not only does Vendetta bring back Rebecca Chambers, who hadn’t been seen canonically since Resident Evil 0, but it also features both Leon and Chris, who, in the games, barely ever get to spend more than two minutes together. Seeing this classic trio bounce off one another with their wildly different personalities is a real treat for longtime fans, but what also helps to make up for Vendetta’s fairly basic plotline is the villain, Glenn Arias.

Arias comes across as a genuinely unnerving and creepy antagonist, not just because of his sick and twisted mindset but also his impressive hand-to-hand combat skills, which make him a serious threat for Leon and Chris to deal with. The movie has also produced some of the series’ most iconic action scenes, a prime example being the corridor sequence where Leon and Chris slaughter what feels like hundreds of zombies in just a few seconds.

6

Resident Evil: Degeneration

A Simple, Fun, And Straightforward Thrillride Featuring Two Fan-Favorite Protagonists

• Release Date: October 2008
• Length: 96 minutes

Some of the Resident Evil movies, and even a few of the games, can suffer from their stories being a little too outlandish or complex, but Degeneration strips things back to basics. The movie revolves around Leon and Claire, who must prevent a mysterious terrorist group from spreading the deadly T-Virus across the entire country. While the movie contains plenty of original characters who all bring something new to the table, it’s really the relationship between Leon and Claire that shines most here.

Seeing the two reminisce about Raccoon City and how the traumatic incident has shaped their lives makes for some of the best scenes in the movie while also giving fans valuable insight into what they both got up to after the outbreak. There are also tons of action scenes packed into the film to complement the exposition dumps, ensuring it never ends up becoming boring or predictable. Leon has received a lot of flak for feeling a little flat in this movie compared to his other iterations, but it’s a small flaw in an otherwise great film.

5

Resident Evil: Extinction

Extinction Takes Alice’s Zombie-Killing Adventure To The Mojave Desert

• Release Date: September 2007
• Length: 94 minutes

Resident Evil: Extinction doesn’t do too much out of the ordinary from the average zombie film, but what it does have is some frankly jaw-dropping cinematography and an incredibly unique environment. Being set in the Nevada Desert, the film is initially split between Alice’s adventure across the sandy dunes and Claire and Carlos’ journey before the entire team comes together at the halfway point to take part in some zombie-slaying antics while also trying to survive the harsh conditions.

Though Claire and Carlos are nothing like their original counterparts, they still both receive a nice bit of development throughout the film, and the same applies to Alice, who desperately tries to fight back against Umbrella’s programming. It also feels like Anderson went above and beyond with the camera work for this movie specifically, making it a real feast for the eyes to watch in action.

4

Resident Evil: Death Island

Longtime Fans Finally Get To See The Grand Reunion Of The Series’ Main Protagonists

• Release Date: June 2023
• Length: 91 minutes

Resident Evil is a little weird when it comes to its protagonists. While there are several characters who have assumed this role in the games, a few of them have never even met, such as Leon and Jill, for example. Because of this, fans were eagerly excited for Death Island since this movie would be the first time the main five characters of the series all come together to take down a common foe. Therefore, while the film is a little light on story, it more than makes up for it with its endless amount of fanservice.

Seeing Leon and Jill blasting away a swarm of Lickers or Claire and Rebecca working together to uncover how Alcatraz became infested with zombies are scenes that fans could only ever dream of in the past. The Alcatraz setting also makes for a unique environment, and the movie is also packed full of references to the mainline games, including Jill’s feelings of guilt after being brainwashed in Resident Evil 5.

3

Resident Evil (2002)

The First Live Action Movie Succeeded In Replicating The Horror Aesthetic While Also Offering Something Unique

• Release Date: March 2022
• Length: 100 minutes

While the Paul W. Anderson Resident Evil movies would become a lot more over-the-top and outlandish as they went on, the first installment felt a lot more in line with the games. Because Alice was yet to become the overpowered agent that she appears as in the later films, it means she and the rest of her rag-tag crew all feel vulnerable for the entire movie, and it’s fair to say that the film isn’t shy about killing off these characters either.

While this movie does an excellent job at replicating the eerie atmosphere and environments of the games, what amplifies it is how all the monsters were created through practical effects, with no CGI in sight. Seeing a real-life dog with a half-torn face or a group of zombies all lunging towards Alice at once makes for some genuinely scary and memorable sequences, and of course, it’s hard to forget the epic intro track orchestrated by Marilyn Manson, which kicks off Alice’s nightmarish adventure.

2

Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City

Welcome To Raccoon City Feels Like A Heartfelt Homage To The Series And Its Fans

• Release Date: November 2021
• Length: 107 minutes

The Resident Evil series is often described as a ‘B-horror’ franchise in the sense that it can feel a little silly and tongue-in-cheek a lot of the time while still containing plenty of spooks along the way. Welcome to Raccoon City perfectly captures that aesthetic and tone by making the dialogue just a little off while still throwing in tons of creepy monsters to ensure things never become too goofy or unrealistic.

The movie follows the stories of both Resident Evil 1 and 2, and while it can struggle at times to balance the two plotlines at once, it’s still undoubtedly a real treat to see these games being reenacted on the big screen, especially with the outstanding set designs. The movie is also littered with references, from the Veronica twins tape to Lisa Trevor making an appearance, making for a fun and memorable viewing experience, especially for diehard fans.

1

Resident Evil Damnation

Damnation Manages To Strike The Perfect Balance Between Action And Horror

• Release Date: October 2012
• Length: 100 minutes

Though it is only mentioned in the games that bio-terror has been occurring on a global scale since the Raccoon City outbreak, Damnation explores this idea in depth by focusing on a country that has been using B.O.Ws as part of a civil war. It’s therefore up to Leon, who feels identical to his original game iterations for this movie, to put an end to the chaos once and for all, but along the way, he runs into some old friends, faces off against a few Tyrants, and even loses a few people throughout his mission.

Leon and Ada get some great scenes together in this movie, but a lot of the new characters, especially JD and Buddy, also get a lot of opportunities to show who they are and their true intentions for their country. By the time Damnation came out, the CG had drastically improved, with both the humans and mutants all looking incredible, even in broad daylight. Still, while there’s a lot of action to admire, Damnation also throws in a few slow and sinister moments to keep viewers on their toes from beginning to end.