Let's be real: trying to map out the Resident Evil movie chronology is a bit like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube while a Tyrant is chasing you through a narrow hallway. You think you’ve got the colors lined up, and then suddenly a clone appears, or the world ends for the third time, and you're back to square one. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. Honestly, it’s a miracle these movies even make sense as a single narrative string.
Paul W.S. Anderson didn’t exactly set out to create a tight, lore-heavy cinematic universe that mirrors the Capcom games. He basically took the names—Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, the Umbrella Corporation—and tossed them into a blender with Milla Jovovich’s Alice to see what would stick. If you’re looking for a 1:1 adaptation of the Spencer Mansion incident, you’re looking in the wrong place. But if you want a high-octane, somewhat nonsensical journey through a global apocalypse, you've gotta watch them in the right order.
The Alice Saga: Start Here if You Like Leather and Slow Motion
The main series, often called the "Anderson-verse," is where most people get tripped up. It starts small and then, well, it gets weirdly big.
It all begins with Resident Evil (2002). This is actually a decent survival horror flick. Alice wakes up in a shower, has no idea who she is, and gets dragged into an underground lab called "The Hive." It’s claustrophobic. It’s got that iconic laser hallway scene that still holds up. Most importantly, it sets the stakes: the T-Virus is out, and Umbrella is pure evil.
Then we hit Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004). This one is probably the closest the original series ever got to the games. We’re in Raccoon City. We see Jill Valentine (played by Sienna Guillory, who honestly nailed the look). We see Nemesis. It’s a literal race against a nuclear clock. By the end, Alice is essentially a superhero. That’s a polarizing shift for fans, but it’s the direction the series stays in for the next decade.
When the World Ends (Again)
Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) is where the timeline goes off the rails for some. Suddenly, the entire world is a desert. It’s very Mad Max. If you’re following the Resident Evil movie chronology, this is the pivot point from "zombie outbreak" to "global extinction event." Alice is traveling with a convoy, meeting Claire Redfield for the first time, and discovering that Umbrella is still running experiments from underground bunkers because, of course they are.
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Then comes Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010). This one is famous for its 3D effects (which were everywhere at the time) and the introduction of Chris Redfield. The plot involves a supposed haven called Arcadia, which turns out to be—spoiler—a cargo ship owned by Umbrella. Albert Wesker finally shows up as the primary antagonist here, looking like he walked straight out of the Resident Evil 5 game.
The Mid-Series Confusion: Retribution and The Final Chapter
By the time you get to Resident Evil: Retribution (2012), the chronology becomes a bit of a fever dream. The movie takes place inside a massive underwater Umbrella facility that simulates different cities like Tokyo and New York. It’s essentially a "Greatest Hits" reel. You get clones of dead characters like Rain (Michelle Rodriguez) and One (Colin Salmon). It feels like a video game level, which is both a compliment and a critique.
Finally, we have Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016). This movie is a bit of a headache because it retcons a lot of the history established in the previous five films. It claims to explain the true origin of the T-Virus and Alice’s identity. It’s loud, it’s edited very quickly, and it brings the story full circle back to The Hive in Raccoon City.
- Resident Evil (2002)
- Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
- Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
- Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
- Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
- Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)
The Reboot: Welcome to Raccoon City
In 2021, Sony decided to wipe the slate clean with Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. This isn't connected to the Alice movies at all. It’s a separate timeline. It tries to mash the plots of the first and second games together. You have the Spencer Mansion and the R.P.D. station happening simultaneously. While it’s more "accurate" to the game's atmosphere and characters, it’s a standalone entry for now. Don't try to fit it into the Alice timeline; it just doesn't work.
The CGI Films: The "Real" Canon
If you're a die-hard fan of the games, the live-action movies might frustrate you. That’s where the animated films come in. These actually take place within the timeline of the video games. If you want to see what Leon and Chris were doing between the games, these are your go-to.
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- Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008): Set between the events of RE4 and RE5. Leon and Claire reunite at an airport.
- Resident Evil: Damnation (2012): A prequel to RE6. Leon goes to Eastern Europe. Lots of Lickers.
- Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017): Set between RE6 and RE7. This one features Chris, Leon, and Rebecca Chambers. It’s very action-heavy.
- Resident Evil: Death Island (2023): The Avengers-style crossover. Jill, Leon, Chris, Claire, and Rebecca all on Alcatraz. It’s pure fan service.
Why the Chronology is So Controversial
The main issue with the Resident Evil movie chronology is the lack of internal consistency. Paul W.S. Anderson famously said he didn't want to be beholden to the games, but even his own movies struggle to stay consistent with each other. For example, at the end of Retribution, we see a massive cliffhanger with humans and Wesker teaming up at the White House. When The Final Chapter starts, that entire battle is skipped over. It’s gone.
Then there's the T-Virus itself. In the first movie, it’s a scientific mishap. By the sixth movie, it has a religious, almost biblical origin story involving a dying girl. If you try to analyze it too hard, your brain will hurt. The best way to enjoy the chronology is to view it as an evolving mythos rather than a rigid history.
The Netflix Misstep
We can't talk about the timeline without mentioning the 2022 Netflix series Resident Evil. It attempted to split the timeline into two: 2022 (pre-apocalypse) and 2036 (post-apocalypse). It featured Albert Wesker's daughters. Most fans consider this an "alternate universe" because it tries to bridge the game lore with a new teenage drama vibe. It was canceled after one season, so it’s basically a dead-end branch on the chronological tree.
How to Watch Resident Evil for the Best Experience
Don't just hit play on whatever is streaming. You need a plan. If you want the "Alice Experience," watch the six live-action films in order of release. It’s a wild ride that starts as horror and ends as a sci-fi superhero epic.
If you want the "Game Experience," skip the live-action stuff entirely and watch the CGI films. They actually respect the characters you grew up playing.
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But if you really want to understand the Resident Evil movie chronology, you have to accept that there are three distinct silos:
- The Alice Universe (6 films)
- The Reboot Universe (Welcome to Raccoon City)
- The Animated/Game Canon (4 films + Infinite Darkness series)
The biggest mistake people make is trying to connect the Alice movies to the games. They aren't connected. Alice doesn't exist in the games. Leon in the movies isn't the Leon from the games. Once you accept that they are separate multiverses, the "chronology" becomes much easier to digest.
To get started with a proper marathon, your first step should be grabbing the 4K "Resident Evil Collection" box set. It’s usually the most cost-effective way to get all six Anderson films. If you're going the animated route, Death Island is the most visually impressive and acts as a great "where are they now" for the game characters. Check your streaming services for Welcome to Raccoon City if you want a gritty, 90s-style horror fix that feels like the original PlayStation games.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Rewatch:
- Focus on the Director: Understand that the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth films were directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, which is why they feel more cohesive than the second and third.
- Ignore the Retcons: When watching The Final Chapter, treat the "new" origin story as a standalone soft reboot rather than a factual continuation of the 2002 film’s prologue.
- Separate the Canons: Keep a mental wall between the "Anderson-verse," the 2021 reboot, and the Capcom-produced animated films. They do not cross over.
- Watch for Easter Eggs: In Welcome to Raccoon City, pay attention to the background—the movie is packed with actual items and files taken directly from the 1996 and 1998 games.