SummaryA secret experiment...a deadly virus...a fatal mistake. Based on the wildly popular video game series, Resident Evil is an action-packed thriller starring Milla Jovovich in a battle of good and evil, human versus computer, the living against the Undead. (Sony Pictures)
Directed By:Paul W.S. Anderson
Written By:Paul W.S. Anderson
Resident Evil
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
35
User score
Generally Favorable
6.9
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Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
35
13% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
42% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
46% Negative
11 Reviews
11 Reviews
90
Jovovich isn't at her best, but that's mainly because her character is required to be in shock most of the movie, except when she remembers that she's a Charlie's Angel, or happily sheds clothing to maintain that R-rating. Frankly, most of us can live with that.
50
Technically impressive horror film and sometimes fun to watch, but totally undistinguished.
User score
Generally Favorable
6.9
64% Positive
344 Ratings
344 Ratings
25% Mixed
136 Ratings
136 Ratings
10% Negative
56 Ratings
56 Ratings
Sep 8, 2026
10
A Tense and Stylish Sci-Fi Action Thriller That Set the Benchmark for Video Game Adaptations.2007 (5.0)Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, the 2002 science fiction action horror film "Resident Evil" serves as the opening chapter of the long-running film franchise adapted from Capcom's celebrated video game series. The story begins inside the Hive, a subterranean genetic research facility concealed beneath Raccoon City and operated by the shadowy megacorporation Umbrella. When an intentional contamination incident unleashes the weaponized T-virus, the facility's artificial intelligence mainframe, the Red Queen, executes a ruthless lockdown that exterminates all personnel inside to contain the outbreak. Alice awakens with severe amnesia in an abandoned mansion situated above the installation, remembering neither her identity nor her past. Soon intercepted by a heavily armed Umbrella corporate security tactical team led by James One Shade, Alice and a captured civilian named Matt Addison are led down through an underground rail transit system into the sealed compound to disable the rogue supercomputer. Upon entering the claustrophobic depths, the expedition faces fatal automated countermeasures, most notably an infamous corridor protected by adaptive slicing laser grids, before confronting the true horror within. The deceased researchers and laboratory animals have been revived into flesh-craving undead ghouls and mutated bio-organic abominations. As her latent physical training and combat muscle memory resurface, Alice leads a desperate race against a ticking clock to secure an antiviral cure, survive the relentless hordes, and reach the surface before the subterranean complex is sealed permanently.
Jul 25, 2022
10
These movies are fun, what more do you need. Also why do I have to write an essay
50
The dialogue is nothing to speak of, but the movie has a dynamite opening sequence in which the corporation turns on its workers, leaving them, if not dead, then with "virtually no intelligence," like office workers everywhere.
40
Handsome and sometimes creepy, but formulaic in the extreme.
30
Too grim and humorless to even qualify as trashy fun.
25
A video game cum movie that substitutes shrieking decibel levels for a coherent plot and any resemblance to originality.
0
Such a bad movie that its luckiest viewers will be seated next to one of those ignorant pinheads who talk throughout the show.
Jul 19, 2021
10
this movie introduce me to resident evil franchise. i was never into the games until i saw this movie. so with that out of the way. out of the entire franchise this is the best out of all of them it had great character moments from everybody that had survived in the story the red queen perfect villain ever. "your all gonna die down here" - the red queen most iconic rememberable line ever. what killed this franchise is the side character that switched to lead character is the actress milla jovovich that played alice/janus prospero and the somewhat lead director paul w.s. anderson but that's a whole another story. outside of that i love this film.
Nov 13, 2022
6
Every time there is downtime or expositions, we get the sense that something gigantic is gonna happen to our protagonist. Resident Evil is not style over substance. It’s all style, with no substance. It’s the “popcorn” part of a “popcorn movie”.
Feb 16, 2022
6
This is a good and gory zombie action film. It is not full of horror and suspense but it makes you jump and some of the gore kicks you back a little. This is good as there is no brain power required. You just sit back and enjoy the action and the beautiful star of the movie. Nothing intellectual is a good thing. The action is good but they do use a lot of CG effects which gets a little tired occasionally. Worth seeing though.
Sep 25, 2026
3
I feel like it's a little unfair to review this in 2026... Cause this does NOT live up to what it was like when it came out. I mean, sure, even back then it was a cheesy action thriller about the zombie apocalypse, but at least the CGI didn't seem so god awful. Boy, did this age poorly. Acting is over the top, but. Jovovich is good enough looking confused but tough. The screenplay is quite basic (i know it's based on a game, but make it interesting at least). CGI, as mentioned, piece of crap. Keep in mind, this came out the same year as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Insane. Not sure what redeeming quality i can give to this... It's not good.
Feb 1, 2015
3
Frankly, there's nothing encouraging to see in this movie. It's just another plotless, formulaic, cheesy and unnecessarily violent movie based on a famous videogame franchise. Stay away from this, please.
Production Company:
- Constantin Film
- New Legacy
- Davis Films
- Filmboard Berlin-Brandenburg (FBB)
- Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA)
- FilmFernsehFonds Bayern
- Capcom Company
- FilmFour
- Intermedia Films
Release Date:Mar 15, 2002
Duration:1 h 40 m
Rating:R
Tagline:A secret experiment. A deadly virus. A fatal mistake.
Awards
Golden Schmoes Awards
• 3 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 2 Nominations
Golden Trailer Awards
• 1 Nomination





























