Alright, let's settle this. You typed in "how many resident evil movies are there" and probably got a bunch of conflicting answers. Six? Ten? More? It drives me nuts how messy this gets online. I remember trying to marathon them with a buddy last year and we spent ages just figuring out *which* movies to watch and in what order. Total headache. So, let's break down the actual number of Resident Evil movies clearly, no fluff, including the live-action stuff, the animated ones everyone forgets, and that recent reboot. I'll even toss in the watch order and where you can find them.

Straight Answer: The Total Count of Resident Evil Films

Look, the simple number people usually want is eight. That's the main live-action series starring Milla Jovovich as Alice. But hold up, that's only part of the story. If we count all theatrically released and direct-to-video films officially tied to Resident Evil, including the animated features, the total jumps higher.

The FULL Resident Evil Movie Breakdown

• Live-Action "Anderson" Saga (Starring Milla Jovovich): 6 Films (2002-2016)
• Live-Action Reboot (Welcome to Raccoon City): 1 Film (2021)
• CG Animated Films (Set in Game Universe): 7 Films (2008-Present)

Wait, seven animated ones? Yeah, most sites only mention the big four or five, but Capcom/Sony keeps pumping them out. So, adding it all up:

Total Resident Evil Movies Produced So Far: 14 Films

That surprised me too when I dug into it. Most folks asking "how many resident evil movies are there" probably just mean the Milla ones, but the animated ones are legit canon to the games and super popular with hardcore fans. Let's dissect each category.

The Original Live-Action Saga (Milla Jovovich Era)

Love 'em or hate 'em, these movies defined Resident Evil on screen for years. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, they tell a mostly original story centered on Alice. They got progressively... let's say... *explosive* and drifted further from the games, especially after the first couple. Here's the definitive list:

So, that's six films in the main Milla Jovovich series. If you search how many resident evil movies are there meaning this saga, it's six. Box office was huge, but the last couple felt like diminishing returns to me. Great popcorn flicks though.

The Animated Resident Evil Films (CGI Canon to Games)

This is where many answers fall short. These are fully animated films, often direct-to-video or streaming, but officially licensed by Capcom and set directly within the game's universe. They flesh out storylines between games and feature the actual game characters (Leon, Chris, Claire, Jill, Rebecca, etc.). They are way more faithful than the live-action ones. Counting these is crucial for the true total number of Resident Evil movies:

Important Note on Infinite Darkness: While technically a miniseries (4 episodes), Netflix lists it as a "Netflix Film" in categories, and fans universally include it when tallying the animated releases. It's presented as a coherent ~80-minute story. So, yes, count it.

That brings us to five major CG animated movies. But wait, there's more! Two often-overlooked entries:

• Biohazard 4D-Executer (2000): A very short (roughly 20 min) CG film shown in Japanese theme parks. It's mostly a tech demo, but it's an official Capcom Resident Evil production featuring Leon and Claire briefly. Kind of a curio.
• Resident Evil: The Stage (2015): This is trickier. It's a live stage play in Japan, BUT it received an official cinematic release on Blu-ray/DVD featuring the stage footage edited together like a movie. It tells an original story set between RE5 and RE6. Hardcore fans include it. I lean towards including it as it's an official, widely distributed narrative film experience licensed by Capcom.

Therefore, the animated film count stands at seven. Including these gives us the full picture when figuring out how many resident evil movies are there in total.

The Live-Action Reboot: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)

Tired of the Anderson saga's direction, Sony tried a fresh start. This movie aimed for a more faithful adaptation, mashing together the plots of RE1 and RE2. It featured younger versions of Chris, Claire, Jill, Leon, and Wesker.

• Title: Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City
• Release Year: 2021
• Runtime: 107 min
• Cast: Kaya Scodelario (Claire), Robbie Amell (Chris), Hannah John-Kamen (Jill), Avan Jogia (Leon), Tom Hopper (Wesker)
• Vibe: Tried hard to be gritty and game-accurate (mansion + police station), but the script and characterizations (especially Leon as comic relief) were divisive. Box office was disappointing. I appreciated the attempt at atmosphere, but yeah, Leon felt off. Sequel plans seem dead.

So, add one more live-action film to the tally.

Where to Watch All the Resident Evil Movies

Availability changes, but here's a general guide (check your local services):

• Anderson Saga (Milla): Widely available on major streaming platforms (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video often have them), Blu-ray/DVD.
• Welcome to Raccoon City: Streaming (Netflix, Hulu, others via rental/sub), Blu-ray/DVD.
• Animated Films:
  • Degeneration, Damnation, Vendetta, Death Island: Available for purchase/rental on digital stores (Amazon, Apple, Vudu, YouTube), Blu-ray/DVD.
  • Infinite Darkness: Netflix Exclusive.
  • The Stage: Import Blu-ray (Region A/Free?), niche streaming? Harder to find.
  • Biohazard 4D-Executer: Included as an extra on some RE game releases (e.g., RE Archives: Resident Evil), YouTube clips.

Resident Evil Movie Watch Order

This depends on what you want!

• Anderson Timeline Order (Release Order): Perfect if you want the Milla saga story chronologically. Watch the six films in the order listed in the first table (2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2016).
• Animated Film Timeline Order (Game Universe): These fit between main game titles.
  • Degeneration (After RE4)
  • Damnation (After Degeneration)
  • Vendetta (After RE6)
  • Infinite Darkness (After RE4, specifically 2006)
  • Death Island (After RE Vendetta, around 2015)
  • (Biohazard 4D-Executer and The Stage fit loosely around RE2/RE4 and post-RE5 eras respectively, but aren't essential viewing).
• Welcome to Raccoon City: Standalone reboot. Watch anytime after playing RE1/RE2 for context, or just on its own.

No, seriously, don't try to mix the Anderson and Animated timelines. They are totally separate universes. The reboot is its own thing too.

Deep Dive: Resident Evil Movie FAQs Answered

Let's tackle the common follow-up questions people have after asking "how many resident evil movies are there":

Are the animated Resident Evil movies worth watching?

Absolutely, especially if you're a fan of the games! They directly continue the stories of Leon, Claire, Chris, Jill, and others. The animation quality improves significantly over time (Vendetta and Death Island look great). The plots are generally more coherent (if sometimes predictable) than the later live-action entries. Degeneration feels a bit dated now, but Damnation and later films deliver solid action-horror. Start with Damnation or Vendetta if you want something slick.

Is the Resident Evil reboot movie connected to the Milla Jovovich movies?

Nope, not at all. Welcome to Raccoon City is a complete reset. It ignores everything from the previous six films. It tries to adapt the early games (RE1 & RE2) directly with a new cast and a darker, more horror-focused tone (though it gets messy). Think of it as Universe #2.

What about the Resident Evil TV series on Netflix?

The live-action Netflix series (released 2022) is another separate continuity (Universe #3!). It tells a dual-timeline story: one in 2022 after a global outbreak, and one in 2036. It features original characters and versions of Albert Wesker. It was cancelled after one season. So, it adds to the "Resident Evil" media landscape but is not counted among the movies when asking how many resident evil movies are there. That's shows, not films.

Will there be more Resident Evil movies?

It feels inevitable, right? The franchise is huge.

• Animated Films: Almost guaranteed. Death Island did well enough, and Capcom/Sony Pictures Japan keep producing these reliably. Rumors about the next one featuring Ethan Winters or continuing the Chris/Jill/Leon team are floating around.
• Live-Action: Trickier.
  • Anderson Saga: Done. Milla and Anderson have said it's over after The Final Chapter.
  • Reboot: Welcome to Raccoon City underperformed critically and financially. While the director had ideas for sequels, nothing official is in development. It's probably dead.

I'd bet money on more animated films within the next 2-3 years. Another live-action attempt? Maybe, but they'll likely reboot *again* or try a different approach (limited series?). Netflix might try something else live-action too after the show's cancellation.

Which Resident Evil movie is considered the best?

This is super subjective and depends on what you like!

• Game Fans: Usually prefer the animated films (Damnation or Death Island often top lists) or the first live-action reboot attempt (Welcome to Raccoon City), though the latter is divisive. The faithfulness matters.
• General Action/Horror Fans: Often cite the first Resident Evil (2002) for its atmosphere, or Apocalypse (2004) for its fun Raccoon City chaos. Some enjoy the over-the-top spectacle of Afterlife or Retribution.
• Critical Reception: The first film (2002) generally has the least negative reviews. The later Anderson films and the reboot got rougher receptions. The animated films get mixed-to-positive reviews from fans, less so from mainstream critics.

My personal take? The original 2002 film still holds up surprisingly well as a contained horror-action thriller. Among the animated, Vendetta has the best pure action, Death Island has the best character reunion vibe.

How do the Resident Evil movies connect to the games?

• Anderson Saga (Milla): They don't, really. They borrow names (Raccoon City, Umbrella, T-Virus, characters like Jill, Carlos, Wesker, Claire, Chris, Ada, Barry) and monsters (zombies, Lickers, Nemesis, Executioner, etc.), but the plots and characterizations are radically different. Alice is an original character. Think "inspired by" rather than adaptations. Wesker's fate here is totally different from the games, for example.
• Animated Films: These are direct prequels/sequels/bridges to the main game series. They feature the actual game protagonists and reference specific game events. Degeneration follows Leon and Claire years after Raccoon City. Damnation deals with Leon and Las Plagas after RE4. Vendetta follows Chris and Leon after RE6. Death Island brings Jill back significantly after her recovery post-RE5. They are considered game canon.
• Welcome to Raccoon City: Attempts to be a direct adaptation of the plots of Resident Evil 1 (mansion, Spencer estate) and Resident Evil 2 (Raccoon City police station, outbreak) mashed into one film, featuring the core game characters (Chris, Claire, Jill, Leon, Wesker). It changes significant details, character traits, and timelines, so it's not a faithful adaptation, but it tries much harder than the Anderson films.

What's the longest and shortest Resident Evil movie?

• Longest: Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (Live-Action, 107 min) and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (Live-Action Reboot, 107 min). Among Animated, Death Island is about 91 min.
• Shortest (Main Films): Most of the Anderson films hover around 94-97 minutes. Among animated, the core features are all roughly 90-100 min. Infinite Darkness as a "film" is ~80 min. Biohazard 4D-Executer is only about 20 min.

Beyond the Count: The Resident Evil Movie Legacy

Whether you love the Milla saga for its bonkers action, prefer the animated films for their game loyalty, or found something to like in the gritty reboot attempt, the sheer number of Resident Evil movies speaks to the franchise's enduring power. Fourteen films across different styles and continuities is no small feat.

They've introduced millions to the world of Umbrella, T-Viruses, and zombie hordes, even if purists (sometimes rightly) grumble. The Anderson films became a hugely successful action franchise in their own right. The animated films provide essential lore for dedicated gamers. The reboot... well, it tried.

So next time someone asks how many resident evil movies are there, you can confidently say: "Well, do you mean just the Milla ones? Or including the animated ones and the reboot? Because all together, there are fourteen." And then watch their eyes widen.

Hope this clears it all up! Now go watch some zombies.