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Resident Evil (film series)

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Resident Evil
Official film series logo
Directed by
Written by
  • Paul W. S. Anderson (1–6)
  • Johannes Roberts (7)
Based onResident Evil
by Capcom
Starring
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release date
2002–2021
LanguageEnglish
Budget$313 million
Box office$1.28 billion

Resident Evil is a biopunk[1] action horror film series based on the Japanese video game franchise by Capcom.

The German studio Constantin Film bought the rights to adapt the series to live action in January 1997. In 2000, Paul W. S. Anderson was announced as writer and director for Resident Evil (2002). Anderson continued as writer and producer for Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) and Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), and returned as the director for Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016). These first six films follow Alice (Milla Jovovich), a character created specifically for the films. Alice is a former security specialist and covert operative who battles the Umbrella Corporation, whose bioweapons have triggered a zombie apocalypse. Characters from the games appear, including Claire Redfield, Jill Valentine, Ada Wong, Carlos Oliveira, Chris Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, Barry Burton, and the antagonists Albert Wesker and James Marcus. In 2021, a reboot film, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, was released.

Though the films have received generally negative reviews from critics, the Resident Evil series has grossed over $1.2 billion. It was once the highest-grossing film series based on a video game and the highest-grossing horror film series, and is the highest-grossing zombie film series.[2][3][4][5] The series retains the record for the most live-action film adaptations of a video game.[4]

Films

[edit]
Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Producer(s)
Original series
Resident Evil March 15, 2002 (2002-03-15) Paul W. S. Anderson Paul W. S. Anderson, Bernd Eichinger, Samuel Hadida & Jeremy Bolt
Resident Evil: Apocalypse September 10, 2004 (2004-09-10) Alexander Witt Paul W. S. Anderson Paul W. S. Anderson, Jeremy Bolt & Don Carmody
Resident Evil: Extinction September 21, 2007 (2007-09-21) Russell Mulcahy Paul W. S. Anderson, Bernd Eichinger, Samuel Hadida, Robert Kulzer & Jeremy Bolt
Resident Evil: Afterlife September 10, 2010 (2010-09-10) Paul W. S. Anderson Paul W. S. Anderson, Jeremy Bolt, Robert Kulzer, Don Carmody & Samuel Hadida
Resident Evil: Retribution September 14, 2012 (2012-09-14)
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter January 27, 2017 (2017-01-27) Paul W. S. Anderson, Jeremy Bolt, Robert Kulzer & Samuel Hadida
Reboot
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City November 24, 2021 (2021-11-24) Johannes Roberts James Harris, Hartley Gorenstein & Robert Kulzer

Original series

[edit]

Resident Evil (2002)

[edit]
Main article: Resident Evil (film)
Milla Jovovich portrayed Alice in the original six films.
Countries in which the original Resident Evil film series was filmed

In January 1997, Constantin Film acquired the live-action film rights to the Resident Evil franchise with Alan B. McElroy possibly writing the script.[6] George A. Romero was hired by Sony Pictures and Capcom to direct and write Resident Evil. His script was later rejected and he was ultimately dropped.[7][8] While Romero's script was supported by a number of people from Capcom and Constantin, it was rejected by Constantin producer Bernd Eichinger,[9] as well as Capcom producer Yoshiki Okamoto.[10] In late 2000, Paul W. S. Anderson was announced as director and writer.[11] Anderson stated the film would not include any tie-ins with the video game series as "under-performing movie tie-ins are too common and Resident Evil, of all games, deserved a good celluloid representation".[12] In 2001, Milla Jovovich was cast as Alice, an original character who serves as the main protagonist of the film.[13] By May 2001, Columbia TriStar was in final negotiations to acquire North American distribution rights to the film and budgeted it at $40 million.[14]

In the film, the Umbrella Corporation operates a secret genetic research facility named the Hive. Located beneath Raccoon City, the Hive has been sealed by its AI, the Red Queen, after the release of the T-virus into the facility. The Red Queen kills everyone in the facility to ensure that the T-virus does not reach the surface, but the T-virus reanimates them, transforming the humans and animals into aggressive zombies and mutants. Alice was once a security operative working for the corporation until her memory was wiped by the Red Queen's nerve gas. As her team investigates the Hive, a monstrous Umbrella test subject called a Licker pursues them onto a train. Alice survives along with teammate Matt Addison, but they are separated and taken by an Umbrella hazmat unit, where Matt begins to genetically transform. Alice awakens from a coma to a ravaged Raccoon City after a T-virus outbreak.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

[edit]
Main article: Resident Evil: Apocalypse

A sequel began production in 2003 after the success of the first film.[15] Anderson returned as the writer but, due to his work on Alien vs. Predator, Alexander Witt took over the director's role.[16] The film released on September 10, 2004.

In the film, the viral outbreak reaches the surface and to contain the infection, Major Timothy Cain seals all exits to and from Raccoon City. Among the people trapped in the city are Jill Valentine and her partner Peyton Wells. After Alice awakens from her coma, she rescues Jill and Peyton from a group of Licker monsters. They are contacted by Dr. Charles Ashford, who directs them to an evacuation point in exchange for the rescue of his daughter Angela, trapped elsewhere in the city. Weapon Nemesis attacks the team after Cain commands it to kill all STARS (Special Tactics And Rescue Service) members. The team rescues Angela and makes its way to the evacuation helicopter guided by Umbrella mercenary Carlos Olivera. After Alice's confrontation with Cain and Nemesis leaves them dead, she and the team fly away from Raccoon City as it is destroyed by a nuclear missile. The helicopter crashes in the Arklay Mountains, and Alice is found by an Umbrella search team and taken to a research station. When Alice awakens, she displays extraordinary powers, and escapes with help from Jill and Carlos. As they drive away, Dr. Alexander Isaacs, a top-ranking Umbrella employee, reveals that Alice's escape is part of Umbrella's plan.

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

[edit]
Main article: Resident Evil: Extinction

In November 2005, Screen Gems gained the rights for the third installment in the franchise, which was then subtitled Extinction.[17] Anderson returned as a writer and filming took place in Mexico. Russell Mulcahy was the director. The film was released on September 21, 2007.[18]

The world has been consumed by the T-virus and Umbrella Corporation develops clones of Alice to find one who displays her powers. Elsewhere, Claire Redfield leads a convoy of survivors across the Nevada desert, including Raccoon City survivors Carlos Olivera and L.J. Wayne. Alice roams the country alone, staying off the grid. After accidentally destroying her motorcycle, she joins Redfield's convoy, rescuing them from a mob of attacking crows using her telekinetic powers. Alice and the convoy head to Las Vegas to gather supplies so that they can reach Alaska to find "Arcadia", thought to be a safe haven. In Las Vegas, they are ambushed by a group of Umbrella Corporation's new super zombies created by Dr. Alexander Isaacs, which kills most of the convoy. L.J., who had been bitten earlier and hiding the progress of the infection, now completely transforms and bites Olivera. Dr. Isaacs himself is bitten and retreats to the Umbrella base where he injects himself with large doses of the anti-virus as a cure. He transforms into a Tyrant, a towering creature with regenerative and psionic powers. Alice, Claire and Carlos locate a helicopter in Umbrella base and plan to use it to extract the survivors to Alaska. Olivera makes his last stand by sacrificing himself and plowing his truck into a horde of zombies, giving the rest time to load the survivors. Claire and the survivors head towards Alaska, while Alice stays behind to confront Isaacs, and discovers her clones in the facility. After she defeats Isaacs, Alice contacts Umbrella and warns them that she is coming for them with an army of her clones.

Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)

[edit]
Main article: Resident Evil: Afterlife

Before the third installment had been released, Constantin prepared to release a fourth entry.[19] The film was set in Japan and filmed in 3D with the Fusion Camera System developed by James Cameron and Vince Pace for the 2009 film Avatar.[20] It was written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and released on September 10, 2010.

After the events of Extinction, Alice and her clones attack the Umbrella Headquarters in Tokyo. Wesker escapes and destroys the facility, killing the clones. He is confronted by Alice aboard his helicopter, and injects her with a serum that removes her super-human abilities. The helicopter crashes, and only Alice is seen emerging from the rubble. After six months of a failed aerial search for other survivors, Alice heads toward the supposed location of Arcadia. She lands on an airfield in Alaska, and finds Claire with an Umbrella controlling device attached to her chest and a wiped memory. Claire and Alice fly to Los Angeles, where they stumble on a prison wherein they meet Luther West and Chris Redfield, Claire's brother. The survivors explain that Arcadia is really a tanker off the coast that has been broadcasting a looped message and is picking up survivors. During an attempted escape, Alice, Claire and Chris are the only ones to emerge and they reach the tanker only to find it abandoned. Claire's memory begins to return and she remembers Umbrella workers attacking her group of survivors and moving them to the tanker. They learn that the ship is an Umbrella research facility, which is conducting experiments on the survivors. The three meet Albert Wesker, who has been granted super-human abilities from the T-virus. After the fight, Alice transmits a message to survivors calling them to create a new and true safe haven. As the film closes, a fleet of Umbrella Corporation gunships led by Valentine prepares to lead an assault on the survivors.

Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

[edit]
Main article: Resident Evil: Retribution

Written and directed by Anderson, Retribution was planned to be filmed back to back with the sixth installment, but Anderson decided to focus on the fifth film.[21] Filming took place in Toronto, Ontario from mid-October to December 23, 2011.[22] Colin Salmon who played One and Michelle Rodriguez who played Rain Ocampo in the first film returned.[23][24] Oded Fehr, who portrayed Carlos Olivera in the second and third films, also returned. Three characters from the video games made their debut in the film series—Johann Urb as Leon S. Kennedy, Kevin Durand as Barry Burton, and Li Bingbing as Ada Wong.[25][26] It was released internationally on September 14, 2012.[22]

Alice awakens in an Umbrella base where she is interrogated by Valentine. During a power failure orchestrated by Ada Wong, Alice escapes from her cell and encounters her. Wong explains that Wesker plans to aid Alice's escape and battle the base's supercomputer Red Queen, to save what's left of mankind. Wesker has organized a team of freelance operatives to infiltrate the base and help Alice and Ada escape, including Leon S. Kennedy, Barry Burton and Luther West. Along the way, Alice finds a clone of a girl named Becky. They also face clone versions of Carlos Olivera, One and Rain Ocampo, all under the direction of Valentine. After Alice meets with the rescue team, Valentine's soldiers catch up to them, resulting in a shootout that kills Burton, Olivera and One. Alice, West, Kennedy and Becky reach the surface and are met by a submarine, from which Valentine, the clone Rain, and a captured Ada emerge. Valentine battles Alice while Rain fights Kennedy and West. Alice manages to remove the scarab device from Valentine, returning her back to normal, and joins Kennedy in defeating Rain. Alice, Ada, Becky, Leon and Valentine travel to Wesker's base. Wesker injects Alice with the T-virus, returning her superhuman powers, then tells her that she is responsible for saving the remaining humans from extinction.[27]

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)

[edit]
Main article: Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

Anderson wrote and directed the sixth and final film in the series, subtitled The Final Chapter, which was filmed in 2D and was post-converted to stereoscopic 3D.[28][29][30] Milla Jovovich reprised her role as Alice, with only Shawn Roberts, Iain Glen and Ali Larter returning from previous entries as Albert Wesker, Dr. Isaacs and Claire Redfield, respectively. Continuing from the last film, Anderson expressed his desire for the final film to "come full circle", bringing back characters, themes and the environment of the Hive from the first movie.[28] Filming was set to begin in South Africa in August 2014 but was delayed to the summer of 2015 due to Jovovich's pregnancy. Principal photography commenced on September 18, 2015, in South Africa.[30] It was released on December 23, 2016, in Tokyo and on January 27, 2017, in North America.[31][32][33]

Three weeks after the events in Retribution, humanity is on its last legs after Alice is betrayed by Wesker in Washington, D.C. Alice encounters the Red Queen, who tells her that she must return to Raccoon City, where the Umbrella Corporation has developed an airborne anti-virus which will kill every organism infected by the T-virus. In a race against time, Alice is captured by Dr. Isaacs, who reveals his previous incarnation was a clone. Alice escapes and arrives in Raccoon City, where she joins forces with Claire Redfield. After holding off Dr. Isaacs' undead army, Alice, Claire and a team of survivors make their way towards the Hive. They encounter the Red Queen, who tells them the T-virus was created by James Marcus, the founder of the Umbrella Corporation to save his daughter, Alicia, from an ailment that caused her to age rapidly. James was betrayed by his business partner, Dr. Isaacs, and killed by Albert Wesker. Dr. Isaacs and the board of the Umbrella Corporation then intended to release the T-virus to cleanse the world, save the rich and powerful with cryogenics in the Hive, and later rebuild it as they desire. After confronting Wesker and the real Dr. Isaacs at the bottom of the Hive, Alice learns she is a clone of the still-living Alicia Marcus. Alice releases the anti-virus, eliminating all infected by the T-virus. She survives, and gains the memories of Alicia Marcus as a reward to reclaim the childhood she never had. The series ends with Alice riding a motorcycle, stating that her job is not finished yet and that it will take several years for the anti-virus to circle the globe.

Reboot

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Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)

[edit]
Main article: Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City

In May 2017, Constantin chairman Martin Moszkowicz stated that a reboot of the series was in development.[34] In the same month, it was announced that James Wan would produce the reboot with a script by Greg Russo, with both later leaving the project.[35][36] In December 2018, Johannes Roberts was hired as writer and director.[37] Roberts stated that his film will be separate from the previous films in the series, with the story being based on Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2.[38] By October 2020, the principal cast was reported with Kaya Scodelario cast as Claire Redfield, Hannah John-Kamen as Jill Valentine, Robbie Amell as Chris Redfield, Neal McDonough as William Birkin, Tom Hopper as Albert Wesker, and Avan Jogia as Leon S. Kennedy.[39] Other cast members, Donal Logue, Chad Rook, Lily Gao and Marina Mazepa were cast as Chief Brian Irons, Richard Aiken, and Ada Wong and Lisa Trevor, respectively. Filming began on October 17, 2020, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, with reshoots in May 2021.[40][41] The film was released on November 24, 2021, by Sony Pictures Releasing in the United States.[42]

Claire Redfield uncovers secrets about the Umbrella Corporation's experiments and accidents and travels back to her hometown of Raccoon City to warn her brother Chris Redfield. Meanwhile, a zombie outbreak begins after residents are poisoned in the water supply. Chris, along with fellow STARS members Jill Valentine and Albert Wesker, travel to the Spencer Mansion to recover bravo team and find out what is happening in the town. Claire travels with rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy to the Raccoon City Orphanage to flee the city before it is destroyed, where they encounter a Licker and Claire's old friend Lisa Trevor. Wesker betrays Jill and attempts to steal the virus produced by Dr. William Birkin, a scientist working for the Umbrella Corporation. On the verge of death, Birkin injects himself with the G-virus, saving his life and mutating him into the Tyrant. The survivors flee on an underground train with Birkin's daughter Sherry and destroy the tyrant with a rocket launcher. In a mid-credits scene, Albert Wesker is saved from death by Ada Wong and is given his trademark sunglasses.

Cancelled projects

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Underworld crossover

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In 2016, producer David Kern revealed that a crossover film with the Underworld film series had been considered.[43]

Spin-off TV series

[edit]

In January 2019, Netflix was in development of a series based upon the Resident Evil franchise.[44] At the time, Deadline Hollywood reported that the series was to be set in the universe of the films, but when the series was ordered in 2020, Andrew Dabb was hired and confirmed that it would not.[45] Resident Evil premiered on July 14, 2022,[46] to mixed reviews from critics and negative reviews from audiences. In August 2022, the series was canceled after one season.[47]

Cast and crew

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Principal cast

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List indicator(s)
  • This table shows the major characters that were featured in the films, sorted according to the actors' billing order, those adapted from the video games.
  • A dark grey cell indicates that the character was not in the film.
  • A G indicates the character was adapted from the video games.
  • An O indicates an original character that was later adapted by the video games.
  • A Y indicates a role as a younger version of the character.
  • A U indicates an uncredited role.
  • A C indicates a cameo role.
  • A V indicates a voice-only role.
  • An A indicates an appearance through archival footage or photo stills.
Character Original series Reboot
Resident Evil Resident Evil:
Apocalypse 		Resident Evil:
Extinction 		Resident Evil:
Afterlife 		Resident Evil:
Retribution 		Resident Evil:
The Final Chapter 		Resident Evil:
Welcome to Raccoon City
2002 2004 2007 2010 2012 2016 2021
Alicia "Alice" Marcus Milla Jovovich Milla Jovovich
Ever AndersonY
Red Queen
Angela "Angie" AshfordO 		Michaela Dicker Sophie Vavasseur Sophie VavasseurUA Megan Charpentier
Ave Merson-O'BrianV
Sophie VavasseurUA 		Ever Anderson
Michaela DickerA
Dr. Alexander Isaacs / William Birkin[note 1] / TyrantG Jason IsaacsUC Iain Glen Iain Glen
Brian Steele(Tyrant)
Gary HeckerV (Tyrant) 		Iain GlenA Iain Glen Neal McDonough
Matthew "Matt" Addison / NemesisG Eric Mabius Matthew G. Taylor (Nemesis)
Eric MabiusA 		Matthew G. Taylor (Nemesis)UA Eric MabiusA
Matthew G. Taylor (Nemesis)UA
Rain Ocampo Michelle Rodriguez Michelle RodriguezUA Michelle Rodriguez Michelle RodriguezA
James "One" Shade Colin Salmon Colin SalmonUA Colin SalmonC Colin SalmonA
Spence Parks James Purefoy James PurefoyUA James PurefoyUA James PurefoyA
Dr. Blue Joseph May Joseph MayA
Dr. Lisa Addison Heike Makatsch Heike MakatschUA Heike MakatschA
J.D. Salinas Pasquale Aleardi Pasquale AleardiUA Pasquale AleardiA
Olga Danilova Liz May Brice Liz May BriceUA Liz May BriceA
Vance Drew Torsten Jerabek Torsten JerabekUA Torsten JerabekUA Torsten JerabekA
Alfonso Warner Marc Logan-Black Marc Logan-BlackUA Marc Logan-BlackUA Marc Logan-BlackA
Chad Kaplan Martin Crewes Martin CrewesA
Carlos Olivera / ToddG Oded Fehr Oded Fehr Oded FehrA
Jill ValentineG Sienna Guillory Sienna GuilloryC Sienna Guillory Hannah John-Kamen
Lloyd Jefferson "L.J." Wade Mike Epps Mike EppsUA
Major Timothy Cain Thomas Kretschmann Thomas KretschmannA
Terri Morales Sandrine Holt Sandrine HoltA
Sgt. Peyton Wells Razaaq Adoti Razaaq AdotiA
Dr. Charles AshfordG[note 2] Jared Harris Jared HarrisA
Nicholai GinovaefG Zack Ward
Yuri Loganova Stefen Hayes
Mackenzie Geoffrey Pounsett
Albert WeskerG Jason O'Mara Shawn Roberts Tom Hopper
Claire RedfieldG Ali Larter Ali LarterA Ali Larter Kaya Scodelario
Lauren BillY
K-Mart Spencer Locke Spencer LockeC Spencer LockeA
Chase Linden Ashby Linden AshbyA
Betty Ashanti
Mikey Christopher Egan
Slater Matthew Marsden
Otto Joe Hursley
White Queen Madeline Carroll
Luther West Boris Kodjoe Boris KodjoeA
AxemenG[note 3] Ray Olubowale Ray Olubowale
Kevin Shand 		Ray OlubowaleA
J Pop Girl Mika NakashimaC Mika NakashimaA
Chris RedfieldG Wentworth Miller Wentworth MillerA Robbie Amell
Daxton Grey GujralY
Bennett Sinclair Kim Coates Kim CoatesA
Kim Yong Norman Yeung Norman YeungA
Angel Ortiz Sergio Peris-Mencheta
Crystal Waters Kacey Clarke
Wendell Fulvio Cecere
Leon S. KennedyG Johann Urb Johann UrbA Avan Jogia
Barry BurtonG Kevin Durand Kevin DurandA
Becky Aryana Engineer Aryana EngineerA
Ada WongG Li Bingbing
Sally CahillUV[55] 		Li BingbingA Lily Gao
Abigail Ruby Rose
Doc Eoin Macken
Razor Fraser James
Cobalt Rola
Commander Chu Lee Joon-gi
Christian William Levy
Dr. James MarcusG Mark Simpson
Chief Brian IronsG Donal Logue
Richard AikenG Chad Rook
Lisa TrevorG Marina Mazepa
Annette BirkinG Janet Porter
Sherry BirkinG Holly de Barros

Additional crew

[edit]
Occupation Original series Reboot
Resident Evil Resident Evil:
Apocalypse 		Resident Evil:
Extinction 		Resident Evil:
Afterlife 		Resident Evil:
Retribution 		Resident Evil:
The Final Chapter 		Resident Evil:
Welcome to Raccoon City
Director Paul W. S. Anderson Alexander Witt Russell Mulcahy Paul W. S. Anderson Johannes Roberts
Producers Paul W. S. Anderson
Jeremy Bolt
Bernd Eichinger
Samuel Hadida 		Paul W. S. Anderson
Jeremy Bolt
Don Carmody 		Paul W. S. Anderson
Jeremy Bolt
Bernd Eichinger
Samuel Hadida
Robert Kulzer 		Paul W. S. Anderson
Jeremy Bolt
Bernd Eichinger
Samuel Hadida
Robert Kulzer
Don Carmody 		Paul W. S. Anderson
Jeremy Bolt
Samuel Hadida
Robert Kulzer
Don Carmody 		Paul W. S. Anderson
Jeremy Bolt
Samuel Hadida
Robert Kulzer 		Robert Kulzer
James Harris
Hartley Gorenstein
Executive producer(s) Victor Hadida
Robert Kulzer
Daniel S. Kletzky
Yoshiki Okamoto 		Victor Hadida
Robert Kulzer
Bernd Eichinger
Samuel Hadida 		Victor Hadida
Martin Moszkowicz
Kelly Van Horn 		Victor Hadida
Martin Moszkowicz 		Martin Moszkowicz
Victor Hadida
Jeremy Bolt
Paul W. S. Anderson
Writer Paul W. S. Anderson Johannes Roberts
Composer(s) Marco Beltrami
Marilyn Manson 		Jeff Danna Charlie Clouser Tomandandy Paul Haslinger Mark Korven
Director(s) of photography David Johnson Derek Rogers
Christian Sebaldt 		David Johnson Glen MacPherson Maxime Alexandre
Editor Alexander Berner Eddie Hamilton Niven Howie Doobie White Dev Singh

Reception

[edit]

Box office performance

[edit]
Film Release date Box office gross All time box office ranking Production budget Ref
United States Other
territories 		North America Other
territories 		Worldwide North America Worldwide
Original series
Resident Evil March 15, 2002 March 21, 2002 $40,119,709 $63,667,692 $103,787,401 2,189 1,602 $33 million [56][57]
Resident Evil: Apocalypse September 10, 2004 September 11, 2004 $51,201,453 $78,141,316 $129,342,769 1,737 1,369 $45 million [58]
Resident Evil: Extinction September 21, 2007 September 19, 2007 $50,648,679 $99,222,424 $149,871,103 1,742 1,177 $45 million [59][60]
Resident Evil: Afterlife September 10, 2010 September 9, 2010 $60,128,566 $240,099,518 $300,228,084 1,415 513 $60 million [61]
Resident Evil: Retribution September 14, 2012 September 12, 2012 $42,345,531 $198,302,098 $240,647,629 2,078 660 $65 million [62][63]
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter January 27, 2017 December 23, 2016 $26,844,962 $287,256,498 $314,101,190 3,048 465 $40 million [64][65]
Reboot
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City November 24, 2021 December 3, 2021 $16,937,037 $24,914,303 $41,851,340 4,076 2,874 $25 million [66][67]
Total $288,225,937 $991,603,849 $1,279,829,516 $313 million [68]

Apocalypse, Extinction, Afterlife and Retribution all opened at number one at the North American box office.

Critical and public response

[edit]
Each film is linked to the "Critical response" section of its article
Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore[69]
Original series
Resident Evil 36% (132 reviews)[70] 33 (24 reviews)[71] B
Resident Evil: Apocalypse 19% (133 reviews)[72] 35 (26 reviews)[73] B
Resident Evil: Extinction 24% (100 reviews)[74] 41 (12 reviews)[75] B−
Resident Evil: Afterlife 21% (107 reviews)[76] 37 (14 reviews)[77] B−
Resident Evil: Retribution 28% (75 reviews)[78] 39 (17 reviews)[79] C+
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter 37% (103 reviews)[80] 49 (19 reviews)[81] B
Reboot
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City 30% (90 reviews)[82] 44 (21 reviews)[83] C+

The first six films, all written and produced by Anderson, generally received mixed to negative reviews from critics.[84][85] However, they have gained a cult following among a distinct subset of reviewers.[86] Calum Marsh of the National Post admired the Anderson-directed entries, saying: "The first is classical, close-quarters horror ... Part four, Afterlife, is a riot of ludicrous action and superhero brawn ... but it's a mere amuse bouche next to the five-star spread of part five, Retribution—a glorious, practically experimental sci-fi action wonder."[85] Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of The A.V. Club called them "lean and lively and fun and totally unpretentious", and commended Anderson's style, "focused on organizing action and orientating the viewer".[86]

Home media

[edit]

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released all seven films on DVD, Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray, and digital download. The films were also released in DVD, Blu-ray and 4K box sets:

Title Format Release date Films Reference
Resident Evil / Resident Evil: Apocalypse – Resurrected Edition DVD September 4, 2007 Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse [87]
Resident Evil: The High Definition Trilogy Blu-ray January 1, 2008 Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil: Extinction [88]
Resident Evil Trilogy DVD December 9, 2008 [89]
The Resident Evil Collection DVD, Blu-ray September 4, 2012 Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil: Extinction, Resident Evil: Afterlife [90]
December 21, 2012 Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil: Extinction, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Resident Evil: Retribution [91][92]
Resident Evil: The Complete Collection Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray May 16, 2017 Resident Evil, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Resident Evil: Extinction, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Resident Evil: Retribution, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter [93]
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City DVD, Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray February 8, 2022 Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City [94]

Other media

[edit]

Novelizations

[edit]

The novelizations for the first three Resident Evil films were written by Keith R. A. DeCandido. The novelization for the fifth film was written by John Shirley, and the sixth by Tim Waggoner. The fourth film did not receive a novelization.

The novel for the first film, titled Resident Evil: Genesis, was published over two years after that film's release, while the Extinction novel was released in late July 2007, two months before the film's release. There was also a Japanese novelization of the first film, unrelated to DeCandido's version, written by Osamu Makino. Makino also wrote two novels based on the game Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Jason Isaacs, who appeared in most of Anderson's early films,[48] was brought in for a day of filming, making a cameo appearance as a doctor near the end of the film, and he also provided the narration that opens it. In interviews, Anderson said Isaacs' character would be expanded on the sequel,[49][50] to which Isaacs responded he would be happy to return for.[51] When Isaacs did not return, Anderson created the character of Dr. Isaacs, played by Iain Glen, as a homage to the unnamed doctor that Jason Isaacs played originally.[52]
  2. ^ According to Anderson, the Ashford family and particularly Dr. Charles Ashford is "based on the game but with a slightly different role", indicating he based him on Resident Evil – Code: Veronica's Dr. Alexander Ashford.[53]
  3. ^ Based on the "Executioner Majini" creature, from Resident Evil 5.[54]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Schmeink, Lars. Biopunk dystopias: Genetic engineering, society and science fiction. Liverpool University Press, 2017.
  2. ^ "Zombies Are Worth Over $5 Billion To The American Economy". Business Insider. October 25, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "America's $5 billion zombie industry: By the numbers". The Week. October 27, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Reeves, Ben (December 30, 2011). "Guinness World Records 2012 Gamer's Edition Preview". Game Informer. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  5. ^ Mendelson, Scott (January 23, 2017). "How 'Resident Evil' Became The Most Successful Video Game-Based Franchise Ever". Forbes. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  6. ^ "Constantin buys 'Evil' rights". Variety. January 14, 1997. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
  7. ^ "Resident Evil Film News". Computer and Video Games. January 27, 2001. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  8. ^ Chernov, Matthew (December 14, 2016). "The film that never was: why George Romero's 'Resident Evil' failed to launch". Variety. p. 116. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
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