14 Interesting Facts About The Resident Evil

The Resident Evil film franchise is produced and primarily owned by Constantin Film, a German production company. Constantin Film secured the film rights from Capcom, the Japanese video game publisher behind the Resident Evil games, in the late 1990s.

Distribution for most of the Resident Evil films, particularly in the United States, was handled by Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems division.

Revenue:

The Resident Evil film series has generated impressive revenue, securing its spot as the highest-grossing video game adaptation film franchise. Across six main movies and a 2021 reboot, Resident Evil has accumulated over $1.2 billion in global box office revenue. Here’s a closer look at the revenue breakdown by film:

1. Resident Evil (2002): Budgeted at $33 million, the original film grossed $103 million worldwide, setting a profitable foundation.
2. Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004): The sequel nearly doubled its earnings with $129 million globally on a budget of about $45 million.
3. Resident Evil: Extinction (2007): This third installment brought in $148 million worldwide on a $45 million budget.
4. Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010): Marking the series’ highest-grossing entry at the time, it earned $300 million, boosted by strong international markets, especially Japan and China.
5. Resident Evil: Retribution (2012): This film earned $240 million globally, again with substantial contributions from international sales.
6. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016): With an astounding $312 million revenue, this became the highest-earning movie of the franchise. It performed exceptionally well in China, accounting for over $160 million of the total.
7. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021): Despite lower box office numbers than prior films, this reboot brought in $42 million globally, with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting its theatrical run.

Total Gross Revenue: The combined earnings of these films surpass $1.2 billion globally, making it the most successful film series adapted from a video game. This revenue record has been aided significantly by international markets, particularly in Asia, where Resident Evil has an especially strong fan base.

Interesting Facts about Resident Evil:

1. Longest-running Video Game Film Franchise: The franchise has six main movies released between 2002 and 2016 and a reboot in 2021, making it the longest-running video game movie series.
2. Director and Star Partnership: The Resident Evil films were directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, who is also Jovovich’s husband. Anderson and Jovovich worked together closely on character development and plot across the entire franchise, adding unique chemistry to the production process.
3. Low Expectations, High Returns: The original Resident Evil (2002) film was produced on a relatively low budget of $33 million and initially met with low expectations. Its surprise box office success spawned the extensive franchise and inspired further video game adaptations.
4. A Tribute to George A. Romero: While Romero was initially hired to write the script for the first Resident Evil film, his vision was ultimately not used, leading Anderson to direct it in a different direction. However, the series paid subtle homage to Romero’s influence on zombie horror in several scenes throughout the series.
5. International Filming Locations: To maintain authenticity and variety, scenes were shot around the world, including in Canada, Australia, and South Africa. In Resident Evil: Retribution (2012), global cities were recreated in Toronto, where scenes were staged to resemble locations like New York, Tokyo, and Moscow.
6. Martial Arts Mastery: Jovovich trained extensively in martial arts, firearms, and combat skills to prepare for her role as Alice. Her physical transformations and combat abilities became iconic elements of the character, earning her recognition for portraying one of the longest-running female action roles in cinema.
7. Global Popularity: While the films performed modestly in the U.S., they were major hits internationally, particularly in Japan and China.
8. Zombie Makeup: Over 300 extras were hired and transformed into zombies for some scenes, with makeup taking up to five hours for each person.
9. Unexpected Box Office Success: The initial Resident Evil film was modestly budgeted at $33 million but grossed over $100 million, prompting a successful franchise.
10. Influence on Horror Films: The movie series revitalized interest in zombie movies, preceding a resurgence that would include titles like 28 Days Later and The Walking Dead TV series.
11. Chinese Box Office: Resident Evil: The Final Chapter saw $160 million of its box office earnings from China alone, showcasing the franchise’s international popularity.
12. Cameo of Game Creators: The video game’s creator, Shinji Mikami, and other designers made cameos in some of the films, bridging game and film worlds.
13. Multiple Filming Locations: The Resident Evil movies were filmed in a variety of locations around the world, including Canada, Australia, Japan, and South Africa. This choice of international filming locations was not only cost-effective but also helped the movies to showcase diverse landscapes that complemented the global infection storyline.
14. Unique Partnership with Capcom: Capcom and Constantin Film worked closely on the project, with Capcom providing creative input to maintain the essence of Resident Evil. This cooperation allowed for some game characters, like Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, to appear in the films, even though they weren’t part of the core film storyline.