Do You Need to Rewatch the Resident Evil Movies Before a New One
In short: No. Zach Cregger's Resident Evil (September 18, 2026) is a standalone reboot with an original story and new characters, so you need none of the earlier films. It's also the best-reviewed video game movie ever (96% on Rotten Tomatoes) and has made over $210 million. The six Milla Jovovich films and Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) are separate continuities you can skip or enjoy on their own.
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Skip the homework. The 2026 Resident Evil is the franchise's eighth live-action film and a full reboot: director Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons) wrote an original story set in Raccoon City rather than continuing any earlier film or adapting a specific game.
About the 2026 film
- Released: September 18, 2026 (US), from Sony Pictures.
- Cast: Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier, with Zach Cherry, Kali Reis and Paul Walter Hauser.
- Runtime: 94 minutes.
- Reviews: 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic, B+ CinemaScore.
- Box office: a franchise-record $60 million US opening; $210.6 million worldwide by October 1 on a $75 million budget.
Critics praised it as a tense, funny horror film that feels like playing the games, built around an ordinary person trying to cross the city as the outbreak spreads.
The Alice films (2002 to 2016)
Paul W.S. Anderson wrote all six and directed four, starring Milla Jovovich as Alice, a character invented for the films. They follow one continuous storyline and drift further from the games as they go. In order: Resident Evil (2002), Apocalypse (2004), Extinction (2007), Afterlife (2010), Retribution (2012) and The Final Chapter (2016). The first is the best regarded; the rest are for fans of slick, silly action.
Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
Johannes Roberts's reboot squeezed the first two games' characters, Leon, Claire, Chris, Jill and Wesker, into one film. Fans liked the game references; most critics didn't, and it never got a sequel. Separate from both the Alice films and the 2026 film.
The animated films
Capcom's CG films sit in the games' continuity, with Leon and friends: Degeneration (2008), Damnation (2012), Vendetta (2017) and Death Island (2023), plus the Netflix series Infinite Darkness (2021). Best if you know the games.
Our verdict
See the 2026 film first, no preparation needed. If it makes you want more, play Resident Evil 2 (the 2019 remake) rather than watching the older movies.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2026 Resident Evil movie good? Critics think so. It holds 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic, the highest scores of any film based on a video game, with praise for its tension and dark humour.
What order are the Milla Jovovich Resident Evil movies in? Resident Evil (2002), Apocalypse (2004), Extinction (2007), Afterlife (2010), Retribution (2012) and The Final Chapter (2016). They tell one continuous story.
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