The Resident Evil film series is a science fiction horror franchise based loosely on the popular video game series by Capcom. The first film, Resident Evil, was released in 2002 and was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. The central character, Alice, is portrayed by Milla Jovovich, who appears in all six main films. The franchise combines elements of action, horror, and science fiction, centered around a dystopian world overrun by zombies and other bio-engineered creatures.
The story begins in a secret underground facility known as "The Hive," owned by the Umbrella Corporation—a powerful multinational company involved in genetic research. A deadly virus, the T-virus, escapes and turns the staff into zombies. Alice wakes up in a mansion above the Hive with no memory and gradually discovers the truth about her identity and her connection to Umbrella.
As the series progresses, Alice becomes a rogue warrior fighting against Umbrella and its bio-weapons. Each film expands the universe, showcasing the corporation’s dark experiments and their devastating effects on humanity. Alice evolves from an amnesiac operative into a superhuman fighter due to being subjected to the virus, gaining enhanced strength, speed, and healing abilities. However, she constantly grapples with her humanity and the moral implications of her powers.
The sequels (Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Extinction, Afterlife, Retribution, and The Final Chapter) follow Alice's journey across a world ravaged by the virus. Along the way, she encounters various allies and enemies, including characters from the video games such as Jill Valentine, Claire Redfield, Chris Redfield, Ada Wong, and Albert Wesker. The action sequences are intense and stylized, often showcasing Alice in combat against zombie hordes, mutated monsters, and futuristic military forces.
A significant theme of the series is the conflict between individual morality and corporate greed. Umbrella’s relentless pursuit of profit and power leads to global catastrophe. Alice, once a pawn of the corporation, becomes its greatest threat, fighting not just to survive but to end Umbrella’s tyranny and save what’s left of humanity.
The series concludes with Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016), where Alice returns to Raccoon City, the origin of the outbreak, for a final showdown with Umbrella. The film wraps up many storylines and reveals shocking truths about Alice’s past and the origins of the virus. In the end, she chooses to continue fighting to protect survivors, even though her powers are lost, highlighting her enduring resilience and heroism.
While the Resident Evil movies received mixed reviews from critics, they were commercially successful and gained a loyal fan base. The combination of high-paced action, horror elements, and Milla Jovovich’s strong performance contributed to the series’ popularity.
