There is no single Resident Evil movie timeline. The screen adaptations split into separate continuities: the six-film Milla Jovovich saga, Welcome to Raccoon City, Netflix’s live-action series, the game-linked CG films and series, and Sony’s 2026 reinvention. Watch each branch on its own rather than trying to arrange every title into one chronology.
What order should I watch the Resident Evil movies?
Choose the branch you want first. For the Milla Jovovich saga, use release order; for the game-linked animated stories, follow the practical sequence below. The other live-action adaptations are separate starting points, not entries to slot into either list.
The six-film Milla Jovovich saga
- 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)
This is the clearest watch order for the six films because it follows their release sequence and keeps their self-contained movie continuity together. Do not add Welcome to Raccoon City or Netflix’s series before or after these films as if either continued Alice’s story.
For this branch, release order is the practical order: watch the films as the saga was released rather than trying to place scenes or events against the game chronology. The six entries belong together as one movie story, but they are not installments in the same continuity as the game-linked CG titles.
The game-linked CG branch
- Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)
- Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)
- Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017)
- Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (2021, four episodes)
- Resident Evil: Death Island (2023)
This is the practical order for viewers who want the screen stories most closely connected to the games. Netflix’s announcement for Infinite Darkness described it as following the 2017 CG film Vendetta; Capcom identifies Degeneration as a story featuring Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield in the aftermath of the Raccoon City tragedy.
Keep in mind that this is a screen-branch watch order, not a replacement for a complete game chronology. The CG films and series are commonly organized between the major game-era events of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7, but matching each screen story to every game event calls for more detail than a simple watch list can provide.
Are all the Resident Evil movies connected?
No. The adaptations reuse familiar characters, organizations, locations, and biological threats, but those shared ingredients do not make their plots one continuity. The useful distinction is between separate live-action interpretations and the CG screen branch tied most closely to the game universe.
| Branch | Format and continuity | Central characters | Relationship to the games | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milla Jovovich saga | Six live-action feature films; its own movie continuity | Alice | Original movie story using franchise concepts and names | Resident Evil (2002) |
| Welcome to Raccoon City | Live-action feature; separate adaptation | Game-derived characters | A separate attempt to adapt game material | Welcome to Raccoon City |
| Netflix live-action series | Live-action series; new story across two timelines | Jade and Billie Wesker | Inspired by the franchise, not a missing movie-saga installment | Netflix’s Resident Evil series |
| CG branch | CG feature films and a four-episode CG series | Leon, Claire, Chris, and Jill among the recurring game characters | Closest screen equivalent to the game-linked continuity | Degeneration (2008) |
| 2026 film | Live-action feature; presented as a reinvention | Not established in the cited announcement material | No connection to an earlier screen branch announced | The 2026 film |
The format and character differences can help you choose. The Jovovich branch is a six-film live-action saga centered on Alice. Welcome to Raccoon City is a separate live-action adaptation of game material. The CG branch brings familiar game characters such as Leon, Claire, Chris, and Jill to screen. Netflix’s live-action show centers on Jade and Billie Wesker, while Sony’s announced 2026 feature is presented as a fresh reinvention.
What is the difference between the live-action branches?
They are separate interpretations, not different chapters of the same Alice-led chronology. A character name or familiar setting can recur across adaptations without establishing that the events happened in the same world.
The Milla Jovovich films tell an original movie saga
The six films form a continuous screen branch centered on Alice. The first film was announced as an original cast and story rather than a direct retelling of a game. The films draw on franchise material, but that does not make them part of the game timeline or the CG stories.
Capcom’s 2010 announcement referred to the 2002 film as having earned $102 million worldwide. That figure helps explain the film’s commercial footprint, but it does not change its relationship to the games: the movie was presented as an original story, not a scene-by-scene game adaptation.
Welcome to Raccoon City is not a sequel or prequel to that saga
Treat Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City as its own live-action adaptation. It is not set after The Final Chapter, and it is not a setup film that belongs before the 2002 Resident Evil. Its relationship to the Jovovich saga is separation, not chronology.
If you want a separate live-action take built from game material, this is the standalone entry point. There is no need to watch the six older films first to place it, and watching it does not serve as a bridge into Alice’s story.
Netflix’s live-action series has its own two-timeline story
Netflix announced the series as a “brand new story across two timelines.” One timeline follows teenage sisters Jade and Billie Wesker in New Raccoon City; the other moves more than a decade forward to an adult Jade surviving in a devastated world. That premise makes it a distinct live-action branch, not a sequel to the six films.
Showrunner, executive producer, and writer Andrew Dabb described it as a “new chapter” in the franchise when Netflix announced the series. That language points to an original story inspired by Capcom’s property, rather than a lost installment that fills a gap in the Jovovich films. Netflix’s 2020 announcement also noted that the franchise had sold more than 100 million games worldwide at that time; it is a dated snapshot, not a current sales total.
Are the animated Resident Evil movies canon?
The CG titles are the best screen choice for viewers seeking a connection to the game universe, but that is different from saying every screen adaptation shares one canon. Capcom’s lineup and Netflix’s description identify game characters and game-linked context in this branch; the Jovovich films, the Netflix live-action series, and Welcome to Raccoon City remain separate adaptations.
For a practical watch sequence, use Degeneration, Damnation, Vendetta, Infinite Darkness, and Death Island. These stories are commonly organized between the major game-era events of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7, but their exact placement relative to every game is more detailed than a simple movie watch order. The sequence above is a useful screen-branch order, not a claim that it maps every game event precisely.
Infinite Darkness belongs here, not among the live-action films. Netflix describes it as a four-episode 3DCG anime based on Capcom’s work, starring Leon and Claire, and its announcement places it after Vendetta. It is a short episodic CG series rather than a live-action movie, so include it when following the game-linked screen branch but do not count it as another feature film.
Where does the 2026 Resident Evil movie fit?
Sony describes the 2026 film as an “all-new story” and a “reinvention” of the franchise, so it belongs in a separate adaptation branch unless official material establishes a connection later. It should not be treated as a continuation of the Jovovich films, the Netflix series, or the CG stories on the basis of the announcement.
Sony named Zach Cregger as director and announced a theatrical release date of September 18, 2026. Those details identify the announced project; they do not establish that it shares events or characters with another screen continuity. The cleanest way to place it in a viewing plan is as its own starting point, not as a numbered entry in one of the older branches.
How should I choose a branch?
Pick based on the kind of Resident Evil story you want, not on a supposed master timeline. The adaptations offer different entry points and formats.
- For a self-contained live-action saga: start with the 2002 Resident Evil and watch all six Jovovich films in release order.
- For a separate live-action interpretation of game material: watch Welcome to Raccoon City on its own.
- For a new live-action story with a two-timeline premise: watch Netflix’s series independently.
- For familiar game characters and the closest screen connection to the games: follow the CG branch sequence.
- For the announced fresh-start film: treat the 2026 movie as a separate reinvention unless an official connection is established.
In other words, “release order” is useful within a branch, while “in-universe chronology” only makes sense after deciding which continuity you mean. Putting all the titles in one release-date list can be useful for a franchise-wide viewing project, but it does not turn them into a single story.
If you are organizing a collection as well as a watch list, physical media is the most direct match for these branches: look for a six-film live-action collection or editions of the CG films. Collector items such as licensed figures, steelbooks, posters, and apparel can also suit fans, but editions, inventory, prices, and regional availability vary. Check the current listing and licensing details rather than assuming that a particular set is available everywhere.
The franchise’s commercial scale is one reason these branches can be confusingly presented together. Netflix’s 2020 announcement said the six-film Constantin Film-produced saga had earned more than $1.2 billion worldwide by then. That historical figure refers to that six-film franchise, not to all screen adaptations or a current box-office total.
What should I remember about the Resident Evil timeline?
The simplest accurate map is five branches: the six-film Alice saga, Welcome to Raccoon City, Netflix’s live-action series, the game-linked CG films and series, and Sony’s 2026 reinvention. Keep the CG screen stories together when you want the game-linked material; keep each live-action interpretation separate unless official material explicitly connects it to another branch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I watch the Resident Evil movies?
For the Milla Jovovich saga, use release order: Resident Evil (2002), Apocalypse, Extinction, Afterlife, Retribution, and The Final Chapter. For the game-linked CG branch, follow Degeneration, Damnation, Vendetta, Infinite Darkness, and Death Island. Watch the other live-action adaptations separately.
Is Welcome to Raccoon City connected to the old movies?
No. Welcome to Raccoon City is a separate live-action adaptation, not a prequel or sequel to the six Milla Jovovich films.
Where does Infinite Darkness fit in the timeline?
It belongs to the game-linked CG branch, not the live-action films. Netflix describes it as a four-episode 3DCG anime starring Leon and Claire, and its announcement places it after the 2017 CG film Vendetta.
Does the Netflix Resident Evil show connect to the movies?
Netflix announced the live-action series as a brand-new story across two timelines, centered on Jade and Billie Wesker. It is a separate branch, not a continuation of the Jovovich saga.
How much did the Resident Evil film franchise earn?
Netflix stated in its 2020 announcement that the six-film franchise produced by Constantin Film had earned more than $1.2 billion worldwide by that time. That is a historical figure from the announcement, not a current box-office total.
How many Resident Evil games had sold worldwide when Netflix announced its series?
Netflix’s 2020 announcement said the game franchise had sold more than 100 million games worldwide. The figure describes the announcement’s 2020 snapshot, not an updated current total.
Was the first Resident Evil movie a direct adaptation of a game?
No. The first film was announced as an original cast and story rather than a direct retelling. Capcom’s 2010 announcement referred to the 2002 movie as having earned $102 million worldwide; its use of the franchise’s world does not make it the game plot on screen.
Where does the 2026 Resident Evil movie fit?
Sony described it as an all-new story and a reinvention, with Zach Cregger directing and a September 18, 2026 theatrical release announced. No connection to an earlier screen continuity was announced, so treat it as a separate branch.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: There is no master Resident Evil screen timeline. Watch the six Alice films in release order, keep Welcome to Raccoon City and Netflix’s live-action show separate, and use the CG branch for the screen stories most closely linked to the games. Sony’s 2026 film is presented as another fresh start.