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There is no single chronological order for every Resident Evil screen story. Watch the six Milla Jovovich films in release order for the Alice saga. For the game-connected animated stories, use Degeneration, Infinite Darkness, Damnation, Vendetta, then Death Island. Welcome to Raccoon City is a separate reboot, so watch it on its own.
The six live-action Alice movies, in chronological order
The six films starring Milla Jovovich form their own continuity. Their story order follows their release order:
- Resident Evil (2002) — Introduces Alice and the outbreak connected to the Umbrella Corporation.
- Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) — Continues Alice’s story as the crisis reaches Raccoon City.
- Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) — Follows the survivors in a world devastated by the outbreak.
- Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) — Continues Alice’s fight against Umbrella and its infected.
- Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) — Sets up the final chapter of this film storyline.
- Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017) — Follows Retribution and concludes the Alice saga.
For the clearest first watch, stick to this order; there is no need to rearrange these six by story chronology. Sony’s official page for The Final Chapter identifies the preceding film as Retribution.
The game-connected animated stories, in chronological order
Capcom’s CG films and Infinite Darkness use recurring characters and story elements associated with the games. Their recommended story order is:
- Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008 film) — Capcom described it as taking place seven years after the Raccoon City incident. If that incident is dated to 1998, the often-used 2005 placement is an inference from that interval, not a release-year date. Capcom’s announcement gives the seven-year interval.
- Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (2021 miniseries) — A four-episode CG-animated series, generally placed after Degeneration and before Damnation. It is not a feature film, but belongs in a broader screen-story watch order.
- Resident Evil: Damnation (2012 film).
- Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017 film).
- Resident Evil: Death Island (2023 film).
The relative sequence is more useful than treating every in-universe year as exact: official title pages do not consistently provide a complete dated timeline. Sony and PlayStation group these productions separately from the Alice films; see the PlayStation Resident Evil overview and Sony pages for Infinite Darkness, Damnation, Vendetta and Death Island.
Prefer release order for the animated branch?
For a first viewing, release order is also a reasonable choice: Degeneration, Damnation, Vendetta, Infinite Darkness, Death Island. That preserves the order audiences encountered the stories. Choose chronological order if you want Infinite Darkness earlier in the sequence; choose release order if you would rather not jump back to a series released after Vendetta.
Where does Welcome to Raccoon City fit?
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) is a separate live-action reboot. It is neither a prequel to the Alice films nor part of the animated game-connected sequence. Watch it independently, before or after either branch. Sony presents it as a new telling of the franchise’s origins; its official film page does not place it in the Alice continuity.
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Quick release-order lists
If you prefer to watch each continuity in the order it reached audiences:
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- Alice films: Resident Evil (2002), Apocalypse (2004), Extinction (2007), Afterlife (2010), Retribution (2012), The Final Chapter (2017).
- Game-connected CG stories: Degeneration (2008), Damnation (2012), Vendetta (2017), Infinite Darkness (2021), Death Island (2023).
Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) is outside both lists because it is a standalone reboot.
Which order should you choose?
| If you want… | Choose… |
|---|---|
| The complete Jovovich-led live-action saga | The six Alice films, in release order. |
| Stories with game-associated characters and lore | The CG chronology: Degeneration, Infinite Darkness, Damnation, Vendetta, Death Island. |
| A standalone reboot rather than a long series | Welcome to Raccoon City. |
| The release history of the game-connected productions | The CG release-order list above. |
| A quick sample of different approaches | Start with Resident Evil for the Alice saga, Welcome to Raccoon City for the reboot, or Degeneration for the animated branch. |
Are the movies connected to the games?
Not all in the same way. The Alice films tell a film-original story and do not require knowledge of the games. The CG films and Infinite Darkness are the game-connected branch, featuring familiar characters and organizations; knowing the games can make references and relationships easier to follow, but is not a prerequisite for watching. Welcome to Raccoon City draws on the early games’ setting and characters while remaining a separate screen adaptation. None of these films is required viewing to understand the games.
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- All six Resident Evil movies, now together in one collection! Based on the popular video game series and starring Milla Jovovich, these sci-fi thrillers are must-watch genre classics!
What about the Netflix series?
The Netflix Resident Evil series is television, not a movie, and it is a separate adaptation rather than an installment in the Alice or CG sequence. It is not included in the lists above.
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Sony’s page announced a new film titled Resident Evil for U.S. theatrical release on September 18, 2026, describing it as an all-new story and a reinvention. That scheduled date has passed, but the information available here does not establish its actual release status or confirmed continuity placement. Do not insert it into either established chronology without confirmation. Check Sony’s film page for current details.
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- All six Resident Evil movies, now together in one collection! Based on the popular video game series and starring Milla Jovovich, these sci-fi thrillers are must-watch genre classics!
Where to watch or buy
Availability depends on country, title and date, and a listing on a digital store does not necessarily mean a film is included with a subscription. In the U.S., check Sony Pictures Core, Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home or YouTube Movies for rental and purchase options. Compare whether each title is marked rent, buy or subscription-included before starting a marathon. Physical editions are another option; Sony lists Death Island in 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD formats on its title page. Store availability and prices can change, so check the individual listing for your region.
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