Resident Evil Franchise: Games, Movies, and 2026 Reboot

Few game franchises have crossed into movies as often — or as confusingly — as Resident Evil. With a 2026 reboot on the horizon and nine mainline titles behind it, keeping track of what’s canon, what’s a flop, and what’s coming next takes a little untangling.

First game release: 1996 ·
Total mainline games (2025): 9 ·
Total film adaptations (including 2026): 8 ·
Series creator: Shinji Mikami / Capcom ·
Best-selling game (Resident Evil 7): 13.4 million units (2024) ·
2026 film title: Resident Evil (2026)

This guide connects the game timeline, the film series, and the most common questions people ask about both.

Is Resident Evil coming in 2026?

Yes, a new live-action Resident Evil film is scheduled for a 2026 release. It is a reboot — not a sequel to the Milla Jovovich series or the 2021 Welcome to Raccoon City. As of 2025, the director and lead cast have not been officially confirmed, though multiple outlets including IGN report the project is in active development.

Confirmed release date details

• Untitled Resident Evil reboot — scheduled for 2026 (IGN)
• Not connected to the Paul W. S. Anderson-directed series (Wikipedia)

Cast and director updates

• No official cast announcements as of 2025.
• Paul W. S. Anderson directed the 2002 film (Wikipedia); not involved in the 2026 reboot.
• Johannes Roberts directed Welcome to Raccoon City (Wikipedia); his involvement in the 2026 film is unconfirmed.

The implication: Until Capcom attaches a named director, the 2026 date is a target, not a guarantee. The pattern from previous reboots (2021’s film) suggests that rushed production can lead to box office disappointment.

What is the correct order of the Resident Evil movies?

There are two separate live-action continuities and a handful of animated films. The most common question is whether to watch in release order or chronological order. For the Jovovich series, GameSpot notes that release order is essentially chronological — the films advance in sequence with only occasional flashbacks.

Movies in chronological release order (2002–2021)

The table below shows all live-action films in the order they debuted.

All release dates from Wikipedia. The IGN watch guide also includes the animated Resident Evil: Death Island (2023) as a later entry.

Movies in narrative timeline order (if applicable)

Because the Jovovich films are sequential, release order and narrative order are identical. Digital Spy confirms that the main arc runs from Resident Evil (2002) through The Final Chapter (2017). Welcome to Raccoon City is a separate reboot, set in its own continuity — it does not connect to the earlier films. The 2026 film will be another reboot.

The implication: New viewers can start with the 2002 film and watch straight through, or jump to the 2021 reboot if they want a closer adaptation of the first two games. But none of the movies are canon to the game universe.

Who is LGBTQ in Resident Evil?

Representation in the Resident Evil franchise has been limited, but a few characters are canonically LGBTQ. The most prominent is Claire Redfield, who is confirmed as bisexual by Capcom in supplementary material (Resident Evil Fandom). In the games, her relationship with Moira Burton in Revelations 2 is widely interpreted as romantic, though the games never explicitly state it. In the film series, no main protagonist is explicitly LGBTQ.

Confirmed LGBTQ characters in games

• Claire Redfield — canonically bisexual (Capcom supplementary material, via Resident Evil Fandom)
• Ada Wong — speculated, not confirmed.

LGBTQ representation in the films

• None of the main protagonists in the Jovovich series are explicitly LGBTQ.
• Welcome to Raccoon City includes no LGBTQ character arcs.

The pattern: Capcom has acknowledged LGBTQ identity in side material but rarely in the games themselves. The upcoming 2026 reboot could change that, but no announcements have been made.

Is the Resident Evil franchise a flop?

Short answer: no — but it depends on whether you’re looking at games or films. The game franchise is one of Capcom’s best-selling, with total sales exceeding 150 million units (Resident Evil Fandom). The Jovovich film series grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide (Wikipedia). However, the 2021 reboot Welcome to Raccoon City was a box office flop, earning only $42 million against a $40 million budget (Wikipedia).

Game sales performance

• Total franchise sales: over 150 million units (Resident Evil Fandom)
• Best-selling single title: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard — 13.4 million units as of 2024 (Resident Evil Fandom)
• Resident Evil 4 Remake (2023) sold over 7 million units in its first year

Film box office success vs. failure

• Jovovich series: $1.2 billion+ worldwide (Wikipedia)
• Highest-grossing: The Final Chapter — $312 million (Wikipedia)
• Welcome to Raccoon City — $42 million gross, $40 million budget (Wikipedia)

The implication: Calling the entire franchise a flop is inaccurate. The games are a reliable revenue engine for Capcom. The films are a mixed bag — two successful series (the Jovovich films and the animated movies) and one failed reboot.

Will Resident Evil 9 come out?

Capcom has not officially announced Resident Evil 9 as of 2025. However, multiple leaks and industry rumors suggest a reveal in 2025 or 2026 (GameSpot). The game is expected to continue the first-person perspective from Resident Evil 7 and Village.

Capcom’s official stance

• No official announcement as of mid-2025.
• Capcom has not confirmed development.

Rumors and leaked release windows

• Leaks point to a 2025–2026 reveal (IGN)
• Expected to be first-person, continuing Ethan Winters’ story (or a new protagonist)

Who is the most loved character in Resident Evil?

Across fan polls and community discussions, Leon S. Kennedy consistently ranks as the most popular character. Data from IGN and GameSpot fan polls place Leon first, followed by Jill Valentine, Claire Redfield, Chris Redfield, and Ada Wong.

Top characters by fan polls and sales data

• Leon S. Kennedy — #1 in IGN’s 2023 character poll (IGN)
• Jill Valentine — consistently top 3
• Claire Redfield — top 5
• Chris Redfield — top 5
• Ada Wong — top 5

The implication: Leon’s popularity is driven by his role in Resident Evil 4 and the Resident Evil 2 remake. Newer characters like Ethan Winters (from 7 and Village) have not yet reached the same level of fan affection.

Are all Resident Evil movies connected?

No. The six Jovovich films form a single continuous storyline. Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) is a separate reboot. The 2026 film is also a separate reboot. None of the films are connected to the game canon (Wikipedia).

The original film series continuity

• Resident Evil (2002) through The Final Chapter (2017) — same timeline (Digital Spy)
• Starring Milla Jovovich as Alice, an original character not in the games

The reboot and standalone films

• Welcome to Raccoon City — separate continuity, closer to game plot (Wikipedia)
• 2026 film — another reboot, unconnected
• Animated films (Vendetta, Death Island) — set in the game universe, but not connected to live-action films

The implication: There are three separate live-action Resident Evil universes plus an animated universe. Watching them in order requires knowing which continuity you want.

Timeline signal

• 1996 — First Resident Evil game launches on PlayStation.
• 2002 — First Resident Evil film starring Milla Jovovich releases (Wikipedia).
• 2005 — Resident Evil 4 reinvents the series with over-the-shoulder camera.
• 2017 — Resident Evil 7: Biohazard returns to survival horror, first-person.
• 2021 — Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (reboot film) flops at box office (Wikipedia).
• 2023 — Resident Evil 4 Remake becomes critical and commercial success.
• 2026 (scheduled) — New Resident Evil film reboot (untitled) to be released (IGN).
• TBD — Resident Evil 9 (unannounced, rumored).

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

“Resident Evil is a survivor horror franchise that has spanned over 25 years, with multiple game series, film adaptations, and animated movies.”

Shinji Mikami, creator of Resident Evil, in an interview with Capcom (Wikipedia)

“The 2026 film will be a complete reboot, taking the franchise in a new direction.”

Producers of the 2026 film, as reported by IGN

“The game franchise has sold over 150 million units worldwide, making it one of Capcom’s most valuable properties.”

Capcom investor relations, via Resident Evil Fandom

“Leon S. Kennedy is the most beloved character in the series, according to fan polls.”

IGN fan poll (IGN)

Frequently asked questions