Best Resident Evil Movies (October 2025)

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The Resident Evil games are famous for being both scary and fun to play, but the movies haven’t always lived up to that standard. However, some of them are still worth checking out. Here’s a list of the best Resident Evil films.

What are the best Resident Evil movies as of 2025?

Currently, the Resident Evil franchise includes both live-action films directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and a number of animated movies. While the live-action films aren’t usually fan favorites, there’s hope that Zach Cregger, known for his work on ‘Weapons,’ will improve things with the upcoming live-action reboot.

It might not be surprising to longtime fans, but the computer-animated movies generally receive better reviews from both audiences and critics. Our list includes a variety of both types of films, and they aren’t presented in any particular order.

Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)

Released in 2012, Resident Evil: Damnation is a visually stunning Japanese animated action film and frequently ranks as a fan favorite in the Resident Evil series. It continues the story from Resident Evil: Degeneration, following Leon S. Kennedy, a U.S. agent, as he goes undercover in a war-torn Eastern European country. He’s investigating reports of dangerous bio-weapons – including creatures called Lickers and Tyrants – being used in the conflict. Even when ordered to leave, Leon is determined to discover the truth.

Resident Evil: Damnation was a joint project between Capcom and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan, directed by Makoto Kamiya and produced by Hiroyuki Kobayashi. Production started in September 2010, with the goal of making a movie that could compete with big-budget Hollywood films. Thanks to advancements in CGI, the characters and creatures looked remarkably realistic for its time. Strong character interactions and a well-written story also contribute to why many fans consider this one of the best Resident Evil movies.

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Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City (2021)

Our pick, Welcome to Raccoon City, is based on the 2021 Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City game. While some reviews criticize it for not staying true to the source material, it’s actually a pretty accurate adaptation. Welcome to Raccoon City is definitely a divisive film – people either love it or hate it. But if you’re a fan of the horror elements in the games, you’ll probably enjoy this movie more than other Resident Evil films, which tend to focus more on action.

The movie Welcome to Raccoon City starts in the 1980s, introducing siblings Claire and Chris Redfield as children growing up in an orphanage. Claire becomes friends with a strange and injured girl named Lisa, who is secretly being experimented on by Dr. William Birkin. This orphanage hides many unsettling secrets beneath its cheerful facade. The story then jumps forward to 1998, where Claire returns to Raccoon City to find it completely overrun by zombies and other dangerous creatures after a devastating virus outbreak.

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Resident Evil (2002)

While the first Resident Evil movie shares a similar setting to the original game, it has a very different feel. Instead of the gritty, retro look of Raccoon City, this film presents a sleek, high-tech world centered around the Umbrella Corporation’s underground facility. The story kicks off when a dangerous virus is accidentally unleashed, and the facility’s artificial intelligence malfunctions, locking everyone inside – something particularly noteworthy given the film was made in 2002.

Alice, a security guard, finds herself with amnesia as a mysterious outbreak begins. She joins forces with other survivors to battle through a dangerous facility overrun by zombies and terrifying mutated creatures. While fighting for their lives, they discover the sinister experiments conducted by the Umbrella Corporation and must face the intelligent computer system that controls everything.

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Resident Evil: Death Island (2023)

Resident Evil: Death Island, a new computer-animated movie released in 2023, continues the popular Resident Evil horror story. The film brings together beloved characters like Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Rebecca Chambers. The story begins with Leon trying to rescue a kidnapped scientist who was working on dangerous bioweapons. Meanwhile, Chris and Jill are investigating a strange outbreak of the T-virus in San Francisco, where people are being bitten by an unidentified creature. Their investigations eventually lead them to Alcatraz Island, where they face a terrifying new biological threat.

Eiichirō Hasumi directed the film, with production handled by Capcom and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan. The animation was created by Quebico, the studio that also worked on Resident Evil: Vendetta, and Makoto Fukami wrote the screenplay again. Similar to other films in the series, Death Island has received a mixed reception – longtime fans are likely to enjoy it more than newcomers.

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Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

Resident Evil: Extinction is a live-action film set in a world devastated by the T-virus. The story follows Alice as she travels with a group of survivors across the Nevada desert. They face increasingly dangerous creatures and are constantly pursued by agents from the Umbrella Corporation. While the overall story isn’t groundbreaking, the subplot involving the Alice clones is interesting, and the film features impressive visuals thanks to the work of cinematographer David Johnson.

Extinction was a hit at the box office, opening at number one and earning $148 million worldwide by January 1, 2008. Critics had a divided reaction – some strongly disliked it, while others found it surprisingly enjoyable.

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How we picked the best Resident Evil movies

There have been many Resident Evil movies, ranging from the action-packed live-action films by Paul W.S. Anderson to the computer-animated movies that closely follow the games and are popular with fans. To decide which are the best, we considered what both viewers and critics thought, looking for films that are both entertaining and truly capture the feeling of the Resident Evil games.

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2025-10-21 02:28