Watch Order Guide For The Resident Evil Movie Franchise

Capcom’s Resident Evil horror video game franchise has shambled its way into cinemas several times over the past few decades. So, how do you watch the Resident Evil movies in order? With numerous films released, it can be challenging to keep track of the timelines and connections within this beloved series. Understanding the correct viewing order is essential for both newcomers and long-time fans who want to enjoy the unfolding horror saga in its intended sequence.

Currently, there are a total of 11 feature-length Resident Evil films, comprising seven live-action entries and four animated ones. Each movie contributes to the overarching narrative of the franchise, yet they exist in separate continuities. This means that while some characters and themes may overlap, each film can be watched independently. However, for those who wish to delve deeper into the lore, knowing the chronological order is key.

To make things easier, we’ve compiled a list of the Resident Evil films in order of their release. This includes both the live-action and animated films, allowing you to experience the evolution of the series over the years. With this guide, you can easily navigate through the films, whether you’re planning a movie marathon or just curious about the franchise’s progression.

How Many Resident Evil Movies There Are

As mentioned earlier, there are currently 11 feature-length Resident Evil films. Here's a detailed list of these films in release order:

1. Resident Evil (2002)
2. Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
3. Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
4. Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)
5. Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
6. Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
7. Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)
8. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017)
9. Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017)
10. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
11. Resident Evil: Death Island (2023)

It’s notable that the live-action and animated Resident Evil movies take place within separate continuities. Furthermore, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City belongs to yet another version of the canon, as it serves as a reboot of the first six movies in the live-action franchise.

How to Watch the Live-Action Resident Evil Movies in Chronological Order

To get the most out of the live-action films, following this chronological order is recommended:

1. Resident Evil (2002)
2. Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
3. Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
4. Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
5. Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017)
7. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)*

*As noted above, you can technically watch Welcome to Raccoon City at any point or ignore it entirely, given its reboot status. We’ve included it at the end of the above list for completeness’ sake.

How to Watch the Animated Resident Evil Movies in Chronological Order

For fans of animated films, here’s the recommended viewing order:

1. Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)
2. Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)
3. Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017)
4. Resident Evil: Death Island (2023)

How Long It Takes to Watch Every Resident Evil Movie

Now that you know the watch order, you might be wondering how long it will take to watch all the films. Here are the runtimes for each entry:

1. Resident Evil – 1 hour, 40 minutes
2. Resident Evil: Apocalypse – 1 hour, 33 minutes
3. Resident Evil: Extinction – 1 hour, 34 minutes
4. Resident Evil: Degeneration – 1 hour, 36 minutes
5. Resident Evil: Afterlife – 1 hour, 37 minutes
6. Resident Evil: Retribution – 1 hour, 36 minutes
7. Resident Evil: Damnation – 1 hour, 40 minutes
8. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter – 1 hour, 46 minutes
9. Resident Evil: Vendetta – 1 hour, 37 minutes
10. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City – 1 hour, 47 minutes
11. Resident Evil: Death Island – 1 hour, 31 minutes

Based on the above, you’ll need to set aside 9 hours, 46 minutes to watch the live-action films (11 hours, 17 minutes if you include Welcome to Raccoon City) and 6 hours, 24 minutes for the animated films. Meanwhile, if you want to watch the whole lot, you’re looking at a whopping 17 hours, 41 minutes of couch time.

And that’s how to watch the Resident Evil movies in order and how long it’ll take!

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