Where to start withResident Evil
12 versions · originally a film, 2002
Themes: Viral Outbreak, Corporate Conspiracy, Genetic Experimentation, Superhuman Abilities, Containment Breach.
Start with Resident Evil (Paul W. S. Anderson, 2002) — the film. Resident Evil exists in 12 versions across media, beginning as a film in 2002; each is ranked below by what it does best.
Resident Evil has more than one version — here's where most fans start, and what each offers.
✦ Most fans start here
Resident Evil (2002)
The original movie
✦ Start hereResident Evil
Paul W. S. Anderson · Film · 2002
The original movie, 2002.
2012 film
Resident Evil: Retribution
Paul W. S. Anderson · Film · 2012
2012 film, 2012.
2016 film
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter
Paul W. S. Anderson · Film · 2016
2016 film, 2016.
2021 film
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
Johannes Roberts · Film · 2021
2021 film, 2021.
2023 film
Resident Evil: Death Island
Eiichiro Hasumi · Film · 2023
2023 film, 2023.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Resident Evil movies in?
You should start with Resident Evil from 2002, followed by Apocalypse, Extinction, Afterlife, Retribution, and The Final Chapter. The animated films like Degeneration, Damnation, Vendetta, and Death Island exist in a separate continuity, while Welcome to Raccoon City and the upcoming 2026 film are standalone projects.
Is Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City a sequel to the 2002 Resident Evil?
No, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is not a sequel to the 2002 film. It is a separate adaptation that functions independently from the original film series that began with the 2002 Resident Evil and concluded with The Final Chapter in 2016.
How many Resident Evil movies are there in the original series?
The original film series consists of six movies. It begins with Resident Evil released in 2002 and follows the story through Apocalypse, Extinction, Afterlife, and Retribution, finally concluding with the 2016 release titled Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.
Are the animated Resident Evil movies part of the main film series?
The animated movies such as Resident Evil: Degeneration, Damnation, Vendetta, and Death Island are not part of the live-action film series that started with the 2002 Resident Evil. They exist as a separate series of animated features that do not follow the narrative timeline of the live-action films.