You can’t say Resident Evil isn’t an active franchise. Since the first game debuted in 1996, Capcom’s undying zombie IP has generated 31 official games, seven novels, three comic book titles and millions of dollars in tie-in merchandise.
The zombie survival game was also adapted into several movies and shows, including six starring Milla Jovovich and directed by her husband Paul W.S. Anderson, four animated features and even a Netflix series that’s better forgotten about.
This weekend, Sony is releasing yet another adaptation, simply called Resident Evil, which is written and directed by Weapons auteur Zach Cregger and stars Euphoria‘s Austin Abrams. With an absurdly high 96 Rotten Tomatoes critics score, this latest iteration promises to be the best yet, but longtime fans or franchise newbies may be curious to watch what came before it.
Watch With Us has a quick streaming guide to where you can find all the Resident Evil movies and TV shows, and when and where we think the 2026 version will debut on streaming platforms.
Where You Can Stream All the ‘Resident Evil’ Live-Action Movies
‘Resident Evil’ (2002) – Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes score: 35 percent
‘Resident Evil: Apocalypse’ (2004) – Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes score: 19 percent
‘Resident Evil: Extinction’ (2007) – Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 25 percent
‘Resident Evil: Afterlife’ (2010) – Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 21 percent
‘Resident Evil: Retribution’ (2012) – Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 28 percent
‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’ (2017) – Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 38 percent
‘Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City’ (2021) – Hulu
Rotten Tomatoes score: 30 percent
As you can tell, none of the previous live-action films satisfied critics — and didn’t really thrill fans of the video games, either. Still, the 2002 version is worth watching, even though it doesn’t really adapt the first game at all. And while everyone hates Welcome to Raccoon City, I dug its B-movie John Carpenter vibe, and it’s the only film in the series that’s somewhat loyal to the lore.
Where You Can Stream All the ‘Resident Evil’ Animated Movies
‘Resident Evil: Degeneration’ (2008) – Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes score: 67 percent
‘Resident Evil: Damnation’ (2012) – Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100 percent
‘Resident Evil: Vendetta’ (2017) – Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 43 percent
‘Resident Evil: Death Island’ (2023) – Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 71 percent
Where You Can Stream the ‘Resident Evil’ TV Shows
‘Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness’ (2021) – Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 55 percent
‘Resident Evil’ (2022) – Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes score: 54 percent
Even though it has a so-so Rotten Tomatoes score, I’d avoid Netflix’s Resident Evil series. Aside from getting almost everything wrong about what makes Resident Evil appealing, it’s just boring and, unlike Jovovich’s RE pictures, doesn’t really offer any trashy horror/sci-fi fun. It takes itself way too seriously, which is the exact opposite of what you’d want from a Resident Evil adaptation.
When and Where 2026’s ‘Resident Evil’ Will Be Available to Stream
Sony has an exclusive first-look streaming deal with Netflix, so it’s virtually assured that it will add 2026’s Resident Evil to its library at some point.
The question is when. Earlier this year, Sony’s other zombie picture, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, was added to Netflix on March 31, only 10 weeks after its January theatrical premiere date.
Don’t expect that same quick turnaround for Resident Evil. The Bone Temple flopped in theaters, so there was no risk in Sony adding it to Netflix after a short theatrical window. Since Resident Evil is expected to be one of the fall season’s highest-grossing films, it will probably stay in theaters for a few months before hitting Netflix sometime in late December or January 2027.
Is the New ‘Resident Evil’ Worth Seeing?
Yes. With a 96 percent critics score and 91 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s safe to say this Resident Evil adaptation is connecting with pretty much everyone who has watched it. Ignore the bitching from RE “fans” who are complaining that none of their favorite characters, like Chris Redfield, or storylines are in this movie; instead, enjoy what director Cregger brings to the franchise and the zombie genre as a whole: great scares, lots of gore and some surprising humor. It’s a fun ride, and when was the last time anyone has said that about a Resident Evil film?
