Resident Evil (film)#Cast

Underneath Raccoon City, a genetic research facility called the Hive is owned by the Umbrella Corporation. A thief steals the genetically engineered T-virus and contaminates the Hive with it. In response, the facility's artificial intelligence, the Red Queen, seals the Hive and kills everyone inside to prevent the virus from leaking into the outside world.

Alice awakens in the bathroom of a deserted mansion, suffering amnesia. An unknown person tackles her as a group of commandos led by James Shade breaks in. Alice's attacker claims to be Matt Addison, who just transferred as a cop in Raccoon P.D. Alice and Matt are ordered to go down to the Hive with the group, where they find another amnesiac, Spence, hidden in their train. The commandos explain that everyone in the group except Matt is an employee of the Umbrella Corporation, and Alice and her partner Spence were assigned to guard the Hive's secret entrance beneath the mansion under the pretense of being married.

A laser defense system kills Shade and three more commandos outside the Red Queen's chamber. Despite the Red Queen's pleas for the group to leave, Kaplan disables it, causing the power to fail and all of the doors in the Hive to open. This releases the zombified staff and containment units holding Lickers, creatures created through experimentation with the T-virus. The horde attacks the group, and J.D. dies while the rest are separated. Alice starts regaining her memories while Matt finds his sister Lisa zombified. Alice saves him, and Matt explains that he and Lisa were environmental activists. Lisa infiltrated Umbrella to smuggle out the evidence of illegal experiments and shut Umbrella down. Alice remembers that she was Lisa's contact in the Hive but does not tell Matt. The survivors reunite at the Red Queen's chamber, where the commandos explain they have one hour before the Hive traps them inside automatically. Alice and Kaplan activate the Red Queen to find an exit; they rig a remote shutdown to force her cooperation.

As they escape through maintenance tunnels, zombies ambush them, and a reanimated J.D. bites Rain before she shoots him dead. They reach safety except Kaplan, who is bitten and separated from the group. Alice remembers that an anti-virus is in the lab, but they find it missing. Spence’s memory returns, revealing he was the thief who stole and purposefully released the T-virus in the beginning; he hid both the T-virus and anti-virus on the train. Spence turns against the others but is bitten by a zombie before trapping the survivors in the lab. Spence retrieves the anti-virus but is killed by a Licker. The Red Queen offers to spare Alice and Matt if they kill Rain, who has been infected. A power outage occurs. Kaplan appears, having shut down the Red Queen to open the lab doors. The group heads to the train, where Alice retrieves the anti-virus and kills a reanimated Spence.

On the train, they inject Rain and Kaplan with the anti-virus. The Licker attacks them, clawing Matt and killing Kaplan. Alice subdues the Licker before a zombified Rain attacks Matt, the anti-virus having failed to cure her. He shoots Rain dead.

At the mansion, Matt's wound begins mutating. Before Alice can give him the anti-virus, a group of Umbrella scientists seizes them. They reveal Matt is to be put into the Nemesis Program, and the Hive is to be re-opened for an investigation into the incident.

Sometime later, Alice awakens at the Raccoon City Hospital strapped to an examination table. She escapes outside, only to find Raccoon City in ruins. She retrieves a shotgun from an abandoned police car for defense.{{efn|as depicted in Resident Evil: Apocalypse.}}

{{Main|List of Resident Evil film characters}}

{{Cast listing |

• Milla Jovovich as Alice
• Michelle Rodriguez as Rain Ocampo
• Eric Mabius as Matthew "Matt" Addison
• James Purefoy as Spence Parks
• Martin Crewes as Chad Kaplan
• Colin Salmon as James "One" Shade
• Ryan McCluskey as Mr. Grey
• Oscar Pearce as Mr. Green
• Indra Ové as Ms. Black
• Anna Bolt as Dr. Green
• Joseph May as Dr. Blue
• Robert Tannion as Dr. Brown
• Heike Makatsch as Dr. Lisa Addison
• Stephen Billington as Mr. White
• Fiona Glascott as Ms. Gold
• Pasquale Aleardi as J.D. Salinas
• Liz May Brice as Olga Danilova
• Jason Isaacs as Unnamed doctor / Narrator
• Michaela Dicker as Red Queen

}}

German production company Constantin Film bought the live-action film rights for Resident Evil in January 1997, and hired screenwriter Alan B. McElroy to write the script.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/constantin-buys-evil-rights-1117433527/|title=Constantin buys 'Evil' rights|author=Variety Staff|date=January 14, 1997|website=Variety|access-date=May 2, 2018|archive-date=October 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003035905/https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/constantin-buys-evil-rights-1117433527/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite magazine |title=The Magazine Biz|magazine=GamePro|issue=104|publisher=IDG|date=May 1997|page=16}} At the time, McElroy was also writing the film adaptation for another video game, Doom, which ultimately wasn't used.{{Cite magazine |last=Ferrante |first=Anthony C. |date=September 1997 |title=Fear Today, Spawn Tomorrow |magazine=Fangoria |issue=166 |page=82 |issn=0164-2111}} The June 1998 issue of PlayStation Magazine published an article about McElroy's Resident Evil script. Described as action- and horror-packed and very violent, the script was similar to the original game. Some changes were made; for example, there was no mention of the Umbrella Corporation or STARS. Instead, the plot followed a special forces team sent by the government to rescue scientists from the mansion laboratory after the SWAT team sent in earlier was killed, during which they realize the mission was a trap and that they are specimens in a medical experiment. The script included all major characters and monsters from the game. McElroy's script was rejected.{{cite web|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/979|title=Resident Evil: The Movie!!!|author=staff|website=Ain't it Cool News|access-date=May 2, 2018|archive-date=May 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503041418/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/979|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine |date=June 1998 |title=Resident Evil: the Movie |url=https://archive.org/details/psm-10-june-1998/page/n11/mode/2up |magazine=PlayStation Magazine |issue=10 |page=12 |issn=1940-0721}}{{Cite magazine |date=September 1997 |last=Jankiewicz |first=Pat |title=Dead Man's Vengeance |magazine=Starlog |issue=242 |page=31 |issn=0191-4626}}

In 1998, George A. Romero directed a television commercial for the video game Resident Evil 2. The original game's director, Shinji Mikami, is a fan of Romero and had been influenced by his films. The commercial was only shown in Japan, but impressed Sony enough for them to ask him to write and direct Resident Evil. Romero stated that he had his secretary play the entire game through and record the gameplay so he could study it as a resource. Romero's screenplay was based on the first Resident Evil game and included characters from the video games. Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine were the lead characters, involved in a romantic relationship. Barry Burton, Rebecca Chambers, Ada Wong, and Albert Wesker were to also appear. The ending to the film would have been similar to the first Resident Evil game.{{Cite magazine |last=Ferrante |first=Anthony C. |date=April 1998 |title=Return of the Living Dead Director |magazine=Fangoria |issue=171 |pages=20–23 |issn=0164-2111}} Romero also hired artist Bernie Wrightson to design some concept artwork of creatures for the film, and Wrightson did several designs of Tyrant, based on its look in the original game and its description in Romero's script.{{cite web | url=https://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=1586324 | title=Resident Evil Tyrant Unproduced George A. Romero Movie Concept Drawing, in Michael J.'s Resident Evil (1998) Comic Art Gallery Room }} In a 2002 interview in Fangoria, Romero said that he wrote a total of five or six different drafts, but that they were rejected.{{Cite magazine |date=April 2002 |last=Mes |first=Tom |title=Romero's Unseen Evil |magazine=Fangoria |issue=211 |page=19 |issn=0164-2111}} Robert Kulzer, head of the production, said that, although he felt Romero's script was good, the film would have received an NC-17 rating if it had been approved. He also said that the producers thought that McElroy did well with his script, but that they rejected it because, by the time it was finished, the second game would have been released and they felt a film based on the first game would appear dated.{{cite web| url=https://variety.com/2016/film/spotlight/resident-evil-george-romero-failed-1201942677/| title=Why George Romero's 'Resident Evil' Film Failed to Launch| work=Variety| date=December 16, 2016| access-date=August 26, 2018| archive-date=February 18, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218144052/http://variety.com/2016/film/spotlight/resident-evil-george-romero-failed-1201942677/| url-status=live}}{{cite web |title= Resident Evil Original Screenplay |publisher= Dailyscript.com |url= http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/resident_evil_romero.html |last1= Romero |first1= George A. |author-link= George A. Romero |last2= Grunwald |first2= Peter |date= October 7, 1998 |access-date= November 26, 2007 |archive-date= June 1, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130601044947/http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/resident_evil_romero.html |url-status= live }} Romero said a number of people from Capcom and Constantin supported his script, but Constantin head Bernd Eichinger ultimately rejected it.{{cite web |last1=Weedon |first1=Paul |title=George A. Romero (interview) |url=http://paulweedon.co.uk/george-romero-transcript/ |website=Paul Weedon |date=17 July 2017 |access-date=2 June 2019 |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220182956/http://paulweedon.co.uk/george-romero-transcript/ |url-status=live }} In 2019, the University of Pittsburgh's Library System acquired the "George A. Romero Archival Collection", which included material involving his work on Resident Evil. These include several more copies of Romero's Resident Evil script, and a first draft of McElroy's script, dated May 29, 1997, all of which are available to read at the university.{{Cite journal |last=Lupher |first=Sonia |date=2019 |title=George A. Romero Archival Collection, University of Pittsburgh |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/745771 |journal=Studies in the Fantastic |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=112–114 |doi=10.1353/sif.2019.0014 |s2cid=213256364 |issn=2470-3486}}https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3AUS-PPiU-SC201903/viewer - "Section: 88. Resident Evil, 1997-1998 - Resident Evil by Alan McElroy first draft, May 29, 1997 - Box 46, Folder 7 A documentary based on this adaptation was released on digital on January 7, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=John |date=November 20, 2024 |title='George A. Romero's Resident Evil' Documentary Releasing in January 2025 [Exclusive] |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3840097/george-a-romeros-resident-evil-documentary-releasing-in-january-2025-exclusive/ |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=Bloody Disgusting! |language=en-US}}

In 2000, director Jamie Blanks was attached to a new adaptation that was said to borrow more elements from the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis games.{{cite web|url=https://www.fangoria.com/original/20-years-later-a-look-back-at-the-history-of-the-first-resident-evil-film-adaptation/|work=Fangoria|title=20 Years Later: A Look Back At The History Of The First Resident Evil Film Adaptation|last=Cervantes|first=Reyna|date=March 15, 2022|accessdate=April 9, 2023}}

In 1995, Paul W. S. Anderson's low budget film Mortal Kombat became one of the first commercially successful video game adaptations.{{cite web| url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/jul/08/features| title=Games on film| work=The Guardian| date=July 8, 2002| access-date=September 10, 2018| archive-date=September 11, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911152028/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/jul/08/features| url-status=live}} After playing Resident Evil, Anderson saw its cinematic potential and wrote a script titled Undead, which he described as "a ripoff" of the game. Bernd Eichinger, head of Constantin Film, was enthusiastic, so Anderson developed it into the script for Resident Evil.{{Cite magazine |date=April 2002 |last=Salisbury |first=Mark |title=Resident Evil: Girls, Guns and Ghouls |magazine=Fangoria |issue=211 |pages=16–21, 82 |issn=0164-2111}} In late 2000, Anderson was announced as director and writer, and Resident Evil re-entered pre-production stages.{{Cite web|title=Info & Tidbits On Resident Evil |publisher=Flixster |work=Rotten Tomatoes |url=http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/resident_evil/about.php |access-date=November 26, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205235505/http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/resident_evil/about.php |archive-date=December 5, 2007 }} Anderson stated the film would not include any tie-ins with the video game series as "under-performing movie tie-ins are too common and Resident Evil, of all games, deserved a good celluloid representation".{{cite web| title= Resident Evil Director explains character and story line changes. Details and explanations...| publisher= News Spong| url= http://news.spong.com/article/1837?cb=702| access-date= March 9, 2008| archive-date= May 28, 2020| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200528011338/https://spong.com/article/1837/Resident-Evil-Director-explains-character-and-story-line-changes| url-status= live}}

In early 2001, Michelle Rodriguez,{{cite news| title= Michelle Rodriguez to take on "Resident Evil"| publisher= countingdown.com| date= March 14, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13841| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212429/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13841| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} James Purefoy{{cite news| title= James Purefoy Joins Film| publisher= countingdown.com| date= March 14, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13847| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212441/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13847| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} and Milla Jovovich{{cite news| title= Milla Jovovich ready for Action!| publisher= countingdown.com| date= March 14, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13853| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212459/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13853| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} were the first of the cast to be signed on the project. David Boreanaz was intended to portray the male cop lead of Matt Addison, but he turned down the role to continue work on the WB series Angel. Boreanaz suggested that he was in negotiations to have a smaller role in the film, but he later declined the role.{{cite news| title= David Boreanaz cast in| publisher= countingdown.com| date= March 14, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13844| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212438/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13844| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} The role of Matt Addison then went to Eric Mabius who was cast in March 2001, along with Heike Makatsch, who was cast as Matt Addison's sister Lisa Addison, an employee working for Umbrella's Hive facility.{{cite news| title= Official Information Released| publisher= countingdown.com| date= March 16, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13974| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212506/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13974| archive-date= December 5, 2007}}

{{Anchor|Filming}}

In early March 2001, half of the film was to be shot in Adlershof Studios in Berlin and its surroundings.{{cite news| title= Shooting Locations for "Resident Evil"| publisher= countingdown.com| date= March 14, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13842| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212435/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13842| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} Principal photography began on March 5, 2001, at numerous locations including the then-unfinished station U-Bahnhof Bundestag of the Berlin U-Bahn, Landsberger Allee, Kaserne Krampnitz and the Schloss Lindstedt.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Patrick |date=March 18, 2002 |title=Paul W.S. Anderson reanimates a game group of zombies in Resident Evil |url=http://scifi.com/sfw/interviews/sfw8235.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014154427/http://scifi.com/sfw/interviews/sfw8235.html |archive-date=2007-10-14 |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=Sci Fi Weekly}}{{cite web |title=Info & Tidbits on Resident Evil |url=https://rottentomatoes.com/m/resident_evil/about.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214043147/https://rottentomatoes.com/m/resident_evil/about.php |archive-date=2007-12-14 |access-date=November 26, 2007 |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Flixster}}

The film was originally subtitled as Resident Evil: Ground Zero{{cite web| title= Small Title Change| publisher= countingdown.com| date= August 11, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=285623| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212542/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=285623| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} when it was considered a prequel to the games, but the subtitle was removed following 9/11. The film's synopsis as of March 16, 2001 revealed that Jovovich's Alice and Rodriguez's Rain were the leaders of a commando team sent in to prevent a viral outbreak from spreading to the rest of the world. The character of the Red Queen was added into the film's story as an homage to Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.

During production, professional dancers were hired to star as zombies as they had better control of their body movements. While computer effects were used on some zombies, much of the undead appearances were accomplished through make-up while their movements were a more laissez-faire approach, as Anderson told the actors to move however they thought a zombie would, given their conditions. Whilst filming, there was a shortage of manpower where the available dancers were not enough to represent the required numbers of undead, but some of Capcom's executives and several of the film producers including Jeremy Bolt agreed to make appearances. The film's stunt coordinator also made an appearance as the dog trainer while Bolt's girlfriend and sister both appeared as zombies.

The film's score and soundtrack were composed by Marco Beltrami and Marilyn Manson during mid-2001. Manson described the score and soundtrack as being more "electronic" than his previous work.{{Cite web |title=Marilyn Manson has ten new songs 'in the works' for new LP |url=http://nme.com/NME/External/News/News_Story/0,1004,49865,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011115234927/nme.com/NME/External/News/News_Story/0,1004,49865,00.html |archive-date=2001-11-15 |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=NME}}

Elements are borrowed from Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, including Alice's character awakening in Raccoon City Hospital with a viral outbreak occurring in the city. There are several references to characters and organizations such as the Umbrella Corporation, the Nemesis program, the underground train bearing the moniker "Alexi-5000" (a double callback to a similar train in Resident Evil 2 and Code: Veronica{{'}}s villain Alexia Ashford), and a police cruiser, from which Alice takes out a shotgun, with a "STARS" logo on the hood. Jason Isaacs appears uncredited in the film as an unnamed masked doctor, a reference to William Birkin. The character of Dr. Isaacs (played by Iain Glen) in the later films is named after him.{{cite video| people= Paul W. S. Anderson| title= Resident Evil Commentary| medium= DVD| publisher= Sony Entertainment|date= 2002}}{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Michael |date=2020-03-11 |title=All The Connections To The Resident Evil Games In The Original Movie |url=https://screenrant.com/resident-evil-movie-video-game-connections/ |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=Screen Rant}}

Other references include Alice examining the mansion outside, where crows are visible; crows are minor enemies throughout the games. Alice finds a picture of her wedding day with Spence, which is in the same style as the photos in the first version of the Resident Evil game: black-and-white with the foreground image noticeably spliced into the background. In the newspaper at the end of the film, the words "Horror in Raccoon City! More Victims Dead!" are shown in the upper right corner. This is a reference to the same newspaper in the censored opening of the first Resident Evil game and the prologue chapter for the Resident Evil: The Umbrella Conspiracy novel. Near the beginning of the film, Alice examines a statue after the wind blows its cover off. This statue is similar in design to one in the mansion of the first game.

While returning to the Red Queen's chamber, Kaplan points out that the four bodies of the group's dead crew from the Glass Hallway Trap sequence are gone. This is a reference to the games, where the bodies of enemies disappear. When the survivors make their escape from the Hive with a countdown as they fight the Licker, this is a reference to the Resident Evil game which ends with a five-minute countdown, during which the boss must be defeated.

Anderson has stated that the film's camera angles and several shots allude to the video game's camera angles, such as the fight between Alice and the security guard. These include a scene near the beginning where there is a close up of Alice's eye, a direct reference to the title screen of the first game. In another scene, Alice awakes and hears a creepy sound, which is a reference to the plot of the first game.

In March 2001, the official website was set up, which revealed the film's original October 26, 2001 release{{cite news| title= MORE Resident Evil scoops| publisher= countingdown.com| date= May 7, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=18749| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212513/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=18749| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} and a redirect to the film's production company Constantin Film.{{cite news| title= Official "Resident Evil" Site Spotted!| publisher= countingdown.com| date= March 14, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13851| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212452/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=13851| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} The website was fully opened in July 2001, and composed of images, plot info, character biographies and downloads.{{cite news| title= Official "Resident Evil" Site to Open in June!| publisher= countingdown.com| date= May 1, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=18477| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212508/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=18477| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} In January 2002, the film was officially announced to have an R rating, although Anderson decided not to make it as gory as the games.{{cite news| title= Resident Evil Official Rating| publisher= countingdown.com| date= January 22, 2002| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=461415| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212555/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=461415| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} Originally it received an NC-17 rating and Anderson had to make cuts; the uncut version was teased but never released.{{cite web|url=http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/11161 |title=RESIDENT EVIL: GENESIS test screening review! |publisher=Legacy.aintitcool.com |date=2002-01-07 |accessdate=2022-09-03}}{{cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/best-and-worst-resident-evil-movie/ |title=The Best And Worse Resident Evil Movie |publisher=Gamerant.com |date=2021-11-29 |accessdate=2022-09-03}}

In December 2001, Sony gave fans a chance to design the film's poster with a prize of an undisclosed amount of cash and free screening of the film, with the final design being the film's poster.{{cite web| title= Design the 'Resident Evil' Poster| publisher= countingdown.com| date= December 6, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=386051| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212544/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=386051| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} On February 16, 2002, Nick Des Barres, a 23-year-old aspiring actor and ex-video game magazine designer, was announced as the winner of the competition.{{cite news| title= Let a Fan do the Marketing| publisher= countingdown.com| date= February 18, 2002| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=545766| access-date= December 2, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212613/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=545766| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} The film's trailer and clips were released in late January{{cite news| title= Direct Link to the Trailer| publisher= countingdown.com| date= January 23, 2002| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=475079| access-date= December 2, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212559/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=475079| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} and early February 2002.{{cite news| title= 5 clips from Resident Evil Online!!!| publisher= countingdown.com| date= February 4, 2002| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=529986| access-date= December 2, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212608/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=529986| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} Resident Evil was released on March 15, 2002, in the US.

On June 29, 2004, over two years after the film's release, a novelization by Keith R. A. DeCandido was published.{{Cite book | year = 2004 | author = Keith R. A. DeCandido | author-link = Keith R. A. DeCandido | title = Resident Evil: Genesis novelization | url = http://books.simonandschuster.biz/Genesis/Keith-R-A-DeCandido/Resident-Evil/9780743499361 | page = 288 | publisher = Pocket Star. Simon & Schuster | isbn = 978-0-7434-9291-1 | access-date = November 3, 2010 | archive-date = November 7, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211107230440/https://www.simonandschuster.biz/books/Genesis/Keith-R-A-DeCandido/Resident-Evil/9780743499361 | url-status = live }}

In May 2001, it was announced that Sony Pictures Releasing would distribute the film in North America, Latin America, Brazil and Italy through their Screen Gems label.{{cite news| title= Sony to Handle North American Distribution| publisher= countingdown.com| date= May 10, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=19082| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212526/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=19082| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} It was suggested by Capcom executives that the film would not be released in 2001, but rather in 2002,{{cite news| title= Capcom Officially Announces "Resident Evil: Ground Zero"| publisher= countingdown.com| date= May 16, 2001| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=19881| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212529/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=19881| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} which was later confirmed by Sony in August 2001.{{cite news| title= New Release Date| publisher= countingdown.com| date= August 19, 2002| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=285622| access-date= December 29, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212533/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=285622| archive-date= December 5, 2007}} The film was set for release on April 5, 2002, before being pushed forward to a March 15 release.{{cite news| title= Resident Evil release date bumped up!!!!!!!| publisher= countingdown.com| date= January 1, 2002| url= http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=425836| access-date= November 26, 2007| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071205212549/http://www.countingdown.com/movies/13839/news?item_id=425836| archive-date= December 5, 2007}}

In December 2001, it was announced that Pathé and FilmFour had acquired the British theatrical distribution rights to the movie as part of a partnership between the two companies. They would both share acquisition and distribution costs and divide profits equally, while Pathé's UK distribution arm would handle distribution.

{{Anchor|DVD|Video}}

Resident Evil: Special Edition was released on VHS and DVD by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment on July 30, 2002, in the United States,{{cite web | title = Amazon | website = Amazon | url = https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005JL3A/ | access-date = December 30, 2007 | archive-date = November 7, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211107230439/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005JL3A/ | url-status = live }} April 14, 2003 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in the United Kingdom{{cite web | title = Resident Evil (2002) Amazon UK | publisher = Amazon.co.uk | url = https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000063W23/ | access-date = December 30, 2007 | archive-date = November 7, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211107230440/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000063W23/ | url-status = live }} and October 2002 by Buena Vista Home Entertainment in Australia.{{cite web | title = Resident Evil (2002) EZY DVD | publisher = EzyDVD.com | url = http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/222679 | access-date = December 30, 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080420212815/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/222679 | archive-date = April 20, 2008 }} It was a special edition release, with a number of documentaries including five featurettes, one of which explained the making of Resident Evil, the film's score composition, costume design, set design, zombie make up tests, and the music video for a remixed version of "My Plague" by Slipknot.

A Deluxe Edition was released on September 7, 2004, which included new special features such as an alternate ending with director Anderson's video introduction, a clip compilation for Apocalypse, From Game to Screen featurette, a storyboarding Resident Evil featurette, and 6 other exclusive featurettes: The Creature, The Elevator, The Train, The Laser, Zombie Dogs and Zombies.{{cite web | title = Resident Evil (2002) Amazon | website = Amazon | url = https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002J4X1Q | access-date = December 30, 2007 | archive-date = October 26, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181026030629/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002J4X1Q/ | url-status = live }}

Screen Gems released Resident Evil: Resurrected Edition, a 2-disc package containing Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Apocalypse, on September 4, 2007.{{cite web|title=Resident Evil/Resident Evil: Apocalypse (Double Feature, ... |publisher=sonypictures.com |url=http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/catalog/catalogDetail_DVD043396209619.html |access-date=December 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125095431/http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/catalog/catalogDetail_DVD043396209619.html |archive-date=November 25, 2007 }}{{cite web|title=Deadly Bundle: Resident Evil Flicks Resurrected |publisher=kotaku.com |url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/deadly-bundle/resident-evil-flicks-resurrected-bundled-272574.php |access-date=December 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216024815/http://kotaku.com/gaming/deadly-bundle/resident-evil-flicks-resurrected-bundled-272574.php |archive-date=December 16, 2007 }}

On January 1, 2008, a Blu-ray of the Resident Evil trilogy was released.{{cite news| title= Oded Fehr talks Resident Evil: Extinction DVD| publisher= ign.com| date= September 26, 2007| url= http://dvd.ign.com/articles/823/823122p1.html| access-date= November 18, 2007| archive-date= November 2, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071102065014/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/823/823122p1.html| url-status= live}} The film was also released on Ultra HD Blu-ray along with the five sequels on November 17, 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/1155291-november-17-blu-ray-digital-and-dvd-releases |title=November 17 Blu-ray, Digital and DVD Releases |date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=March 4, 2021 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122035335/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/1155291-november-17-blu-ray-digital-and-dvd-releases |url-status=live }}

In the United Kingdom, it was watched by {{Nowrap|2.8 million}} viewers on television during the first half of 2005, making it the eighth most-watched UK film on television during that period.{{Cite journal |date=September 2005 |title=4. Film on UK Television in the First Half of 2005 |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/18620776/research-and-statistics-bulletin-september-2005-bfi |journal=Research and Statistics Bulletin |publisher=British Film Institute, UK Film Council |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=20-34 (26-7) |access-date=21 April 2022 |via=Yumpu}}

The film opened in 2,528 theaters and grossed $17,707,106 on its opening weekend (March 15–17, 2002), ranking in second place behind Ice Age.{{cite web|last=Linder|first=Brian|title=Weekend Box Office: Ice Melts March Record|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/03/18/weekend-box-office-ice-melts-march-record|publisher=IGN|access-date=April 26, 2023|date=March 18, 2002}} The film grossed $40,119,709 domestically and $103,787,401 worldwide.

{{Anchor|Critical response|Critics}}

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a score of 36% based on reviews from 132 critics and an average rating of 4.6/10. The consensus reads, "Like other video game adaptations, Resident Evil is loud, violent, formulaic, and cheesy."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/resident_evil|title=Resident Evil (2002)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060501/https://rottentomatoes.com/m/resident_evil/|archive-date=September 21, 2013|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}} On Metacritic, the film has an average score of 35 out of 100 based on 24 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".{{cite web |url=https://metacritic.com/movie/resident-evil |title=Resident Evil |website=Metacritic |access-date=April 14, 2019 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055551/https://metacritic.com/movie/resident-evil |url-status=live }} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title=CinemaScore |work=cinemascore.com |access-date=July 22, 2018 |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |url-status=live }}

Robert K. Elder from the Chicago Tribune thought the film "updates the zombie genre with an anti-corporate message while still scaring its audience and providing heart-pounding action".{{cite web |author1=Robert K. Elder |title=Movie review, 'Resident Evil' |url=http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/movies/mmx-15754_lgcy.story |website=Metromix.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040408210923/http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/movies/mmx-15754_lgcy.story |archive-date=2004-04-08 |url-status=dead }} Owen Gleiberman from Entertainment Weekly noted: the film is as "impersonal in its relentlessness as the video-game series that inspired it".{{cite web |date=March 22, 2002 |last1=Gleiberman |first1=Owen |author-link1=Owen Gleiberman |title=The Week Reviews by OWEN GLEIBERMAN and LISA SCHWARZBAUM |url=https://ew.com/article/2002/03/22/week-reviews-owen-gleiberman-and-lisa-schwarzbaum/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly }}

Resident Evil and its sequel appeared on Roger Ebert's most hated films list, published in 2005.{{cite news | date= August 11, 2005 | first= Roger | last= Ebert | author-link= Roger Ebert | title= Ebert's Most Hated | newspaper= Chicago Sun Times | url= http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050811/COMMENTARY/50808002 | archive-date= June 28, 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090628183709/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20050811%2FCOMMENTARY%2F50808002 | url-status= dead | access-date= March 2, 2022 }} In his review, Ebert described it as a zombie movie set in the 21st century, where "large metallic objects make crashing noises just by being looked at", and criticized the dialogue for being a series of commands and explanations with no "small talk".{{cite news | date = March 15, 2002 | first = Roger | last = Ebert | author-link = Roger Ebert | title = Resident Evil | publisher = rogerebert.suntimes.com | url = https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/resident-evil-2002 | access-date = December 2, 2007 | archive-date = December 12, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071212105703/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20020315%2FREVIEWS%2F203150304%2F1023 | url-status = live }}

In 2014, filmmaker James Cameron named Resident Evil his biggest guilty pleasure.{{citation | url = https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/22uz4m/i_am_james_cameron_ama/cgqmrpn | title = NDhome comments on I am James Cameron. AMA. | website = reddit | date = April 12, 2014 | access-date = June 27, 2015 | archive-date = December 26, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151226075912/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/22uz4m/i_am_james_cameron_ama/cgqmrpn | url-status = live }}{{cite web |date=2020 |title=James Cameron's Guilty Pleasure Lockdown Movie Is Resident Evil |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/james-cameron-guilty-pleasure-lockdown-movie-is-resident-evil/ |website=Empire }}

{{Main|Resident Evil (film series)}}

After commercial success at the box office, a sequel, Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) was released. It was followed by Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016). Anderson did not direct the second or third films due to filming commitments with Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Death Race (2008).{{cite video| people=Paul W.S. Anderson, Jeremy Bolt| title= Resident Evil: Apocalypse Writer and Producer Commentary| medium= DVD| publisher= Sony Entertainment| date= 2004}}{{Cite book |last=Owen |first=Luke |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1001290829 |title=Lights, Camera, Game Over!: How Video Game Movies Get Made |date=2017 |others=Paul Anderson |isbn=978-0-7643-5317-8 |location=Atglen, PA |oclc=1001290829}}

• List of films based on video games

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{{Wikiquote|Resident Evil}}

• {{Official website|https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/residentevil}}
• {{IMDb title|0120804}}
• {{Mojo title|residentevil}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes|resident_evil}}

{{Resident Evil series}}

{{Paul W. S. Anderson}}

{{Bernd Eichinger}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Resident Evil (Film)}}

Category:Resident Evil (film series)

Category:2002 films

Category:2002 horror films

Category:2000s action horror films

Category:2002 science fiction action films

Category:German action horror films

Category:German science fiction action films

Category:German science fiction horror films

Category:British zombie films

Category:2000s English-language films

Category:English-language German films

Category:Films directed by Paul W. S. Anderson

Category:Apocalyptic films

Category:Films produced by Jeremy Bolt

Category:Films produced by Paul W. S. Anderson

Category:Films set in country houses

Category:Films set in the United States

Category:Films shot in Berlin

Category:Films shot in Brandenburg

Category:Films shot in Toronto

Category:Girls with guns films

Category:Films about viral outbreaks

Category:Films about rebellions

Category:Films scored by Marco Beltrami

Category:Films produced by Bernd Eichinger

Category:Screen Gems films

Category:Film4 Productions films

Category:Constantin Film films

Category:Films with screenplays by Paul W. S. Anderson

Category:British action horror films

Category:British science fiction horror films

Category:British science fiction action films

Category:Live-action films based on video games

Category:2000s science fiction horror films

Category:2000s British films

Category:2000s German films

Category:Works based on Capcom video games

Category:English-language action horror films

Category:English-language science fiction horror films

Category:English-language science fiction action films