Every Resident Evil Movie So Far, Ranked by Jump Scares

The Resident Evil movies are known for their iconic blend of action and undead zombies. Beginning in 2002, the first Resident Evil movie drew from Capcom‘s insanely famous survival horror video game series of the same name. What resulted was a successful billion-dollar franchise, a rarity in Hollywood game adaptations.

Each movie is known more for its action sequences, pushing the genre more in that direction when it comes to survival horror. The sinister Umbrella Corporation is the driving force behind the bio-horror that is unleashed. The movies move between different kinds of horror elements (atmospheric, creature design) to deliver jump scares in some of them. Here is every Resident Evil movie ranked by its jump scares.

11 Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)

Resident Evil: Degeneration is the first CG animated movie in the franchise, while being the most horror-adjacent of the entire lot. Opening the movie at a zombie-infested airport sets things in motion. However, the terrible CGI undercuts any real horror or tension that the movie tries to sell you on. The movie has stiff character animation that somehow manages to be less scary than the games.

10 Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017)

A John Wick-style CG zombie movie built around car chases and combat, Vendetta is the most action-oriented animated movie of the lot. Set in New York against a new bioweapon threat, this Resident Evil movie has minimal horror compared to its spectacle action. The jump scares come from enemies during one or two moments, but are effectively absent.

9 Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)

Set in a fictional war zone in Eastern Europe, Damnation focuses on a plot-driven civil war story. The weapons are bio-organic soldiers with a dark political narrative that has more action than horror. The only jump scare moments are with Licker, underneath the ground, and in claustrophobic moments.

8 Resident Evil: Death Island (2023)

Resident Evil: Death Island utilizes an isolated island setting for more CG animated spectacle over genuine jump scares. Following an advanced strain of T-Virus outbreak, the movie’s horror potential is squandered by relentless combat. With a few creature features sprinkled along, the movie has a few jump scares, but they are not scary.

7 Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)

Welcome to Raccoon City by Johannes Roberts was an intentional foray into recreating the Resident Evil games’ atmosphere. The movie contains some effective jump scares, notably a zombie dog sequence, along with zombie encounters. With a more haunted house and atmospheric approach, the jump scares are well laid out.

6 Resident Evil (2002)

The one that started it all: Resident Evil kick-started the zombie-action subgenre that unofficially influenced many movies that came after it, including Zack Snyder’s zombie films. Milla Jovovich’s Resident Evil movies launched her career, and she remains heavily associated with the franchise. With many jump scares that land effectively compared to its sequels, the first movie stands as a great example of horror and action.

5 Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

With an open desert wasteland, Extinction becomes a free-for-all zombie movie in a wide landscape. One might think this reduces the chances for jump scares, but the movie has moments that are truly terrifying, catching people off guard. Standout scenes include mutated crows, body horror transformations, and shock moments in the third act.

4 Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

Apocalypse introduced the iconic Nemesis to the live-action films, with his arrival marking a terrifyingly iconic jump scare as he crashes through the set. Set in the dark Raccoon City, tension is ramped up for a claustrophobic and urban horror mood. In tight spaces, Licker once again takes the cake for jump scares along with zombie mob appearances.

3 Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) 

Afterlife was notably shot in 3D, making the jump scares fall right in our faces. Director Anderson utilized this aggressively to engineer scares for the sake of it. The axe-wielding Executioner Majini is a memorable jumpscare moment when it crashes through the ceiling. With the setting being a prison, the director makes the most of its tight spaces for creature reveals.

2 Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

Retribution is an iconic globe-trotter of a film, taking action horror to simulated environments for multiple creature sequences. From its nightmarish opening to the Las Plagas, the movie constantly throws jump scares at you during its high-octane thriller moments. The attacks feel unpredictable as the monster roster keeps increasing.

1 Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)

The undisputed jump scare victor, The Final Chapter has jump scares at practically every turn of the film. Director Paul W.S. Anderson managed to throw in as many as inhumanely possible inside the Hive environment. With rapid action and editing, the creatures never stop coming in this scary movie that acts as a shock vehicle.

Here is a summary of all the movies discussed.

RankMovieJump Scare DescriptionIMDb (As of May 1, 2026)Rotten Tomatoes – Tomatometer | Popcornmeter (As of May 1, 2026)

1	Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)	Rapid-fire editing and an endless creature onslaught inside the Hive make it the franchise’s ultimate shock machine.	5.5/10	38%|47%
2	Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)	Nemesis’s thunderous entrance and Lickers in tight urban corridors ramp up relentless claustrophobic dread.	6.1/10	18%|60%
3	Resident Evil (2002)	The franchise starter lands its scares consistently, balancing horror and action better than its sequels.	6.6/10	36%|67%
4	Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)	Mutated crow attacks and body horror transformations in an open desert prove wide spaces can still terrify.	6.2/10	24%|58%
5	Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)	A zombie dog ambush and haunted-house atmosphere make its well-placed jump scares genuinely effective.	5.2/10	30%|65%
6	Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)	The Executioner Majini crashing through a ceiling in aggressive 3D makes scares literally fly at your face.	5.8/10	21%|48%
7	Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)	Unpredictable Las Plagas attacks across globe-spanning simulated environments keep the jump scares relentless.	5.3/10	28%|51%
8	Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)	Lickers lurking underground in cramped, claustrophobic spaces deliver the only real moments of dread.	6.4/10	100%|70%
9	Resident Evil: Death Island (2023)	Relentless combat overshadows the island’s horror potential, leaving its few jump scares toothless.	5.7/10	71%|64%
10	Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017)	Action-heavy car chase spectacle leaves almost no room for genuine scares.	6.2/10	43%|50%
11	Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)	Stiff CGI animation drains all tension, making the zombie airport outbreak more awkward than alarming.	6.4/10	67%|57%

The Resident Evil franchise is getting a do-over with acclaimed Weapons director Zach Cregger making an original Resident Evil movie. Will the Resident Evil franchise see a new set of jump scares? Here are commonly asked questions about the franchise.

What is your favourite Resident Evil movie? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.