Resident EvilList about the science fiction action-horror game and film franchise, in which innocents fight the zombies and monsters created by the evil Umbrella Corporation.
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The 13 Best 'Resident Evil' Movie Characters
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The Resident Evil franchise has firmly established itself as a mainstay in the horror and zombie subgenres over the past 30 years thanks to its plethora of video games, graphic novels, animated films, and, of course, feature films. With seven Resident Evil movies released over the last two decades, fans have had a plethora of zombie goodness to sink their teeth into, and while some of the films may be more beloved than others, one aspect of the films that is almost universally agreed upon by fans as outstanding is the phenomenal crop of Resident Evil movie characters brought to life in these horrifying films.
Characters like Jill Valentine, Claire Redfield, and Chris Redfield have been brought to life in pitch-perfect adaptations from their video game counterparts thanks to stellar performances by Sienna Guillory, Ali Larter, and Wentworth Miller, respectively. While newcomer Michelle Rodriguez made an everlasting impact with brand new character Rain Ocampo, a character who changed the foundation of the Resident Evil franchise. Of course, there are also fan favorites like Milla Jovovich’s Alice and Oded Fehr’s Carlos Oliveira who bring passion to the films and each film's respective heartbeats. Each Resident Evil character brings intelligence, power, pain, and gravitas to the franchise, and all of them showcase exactly why these characters are so beloved in their video games.
One of the most controversial Resident Evil movie characters, Jill Valentine went from fan favorite to jarring villain back to hero over the course of three movies. Jill was seen as the remarkable and powerful woman she was in the video games in Resident Evil: Apocalypse, but a strange twist of fate had her become an Umbrella agent throughout the next few films, and although she would have redeeming actions in the last film, many were thrown for a loop to see one of the series's most beloved characters cast in this jarring way.
One of the only characters to appear in each of the original Resident Evil franchise films, Milla Jovovich played the series protagonist and general rockstar, Alice, throughout the films. While her character underwent a hefty amount of trauma, from deaths to resurrections to gaining superpowers and fighting against massive beasts, she was the heart and soul of the Resident Evil movies who showcased that a female-led action movie was more than possible in today's day and age.
While she may not have joined the franchise from the jump, Ali Larter's portrayal of Claire Redfield instantly became a fan favorite when she joined the franchise in Resident Evil: Extinction, as many fans were finally able to witness their favorite of the Redfield siblings on the silver screen. Larter, coming hot off of the hit show Heroes, brought a sense of purpose and importance to the roll as she was arguably the biggest star in the franchise up to that point. Claire was portrayed just as wonderfully as she was in the games, as a strong, independent, and charismatic leader who always takes care of her people.
Appears In:Resident Evil: Extinction, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter Actor: Ali Larter
Arguably one of the biggest fan favorites in both the games and the film series, Oded Fehr's turn as Carlos Oliveira instantly became a huge hit as his charm, action prowess, and superb acting ability helped bring this fan-favorite character to light perfectly. The right balance of over the top heroicness and campy charm, Carlos suffered one of the franchise most tragic endings, but he went down as he came in, as one of the coolest and most selfless heroes Resident Evil had ever seen.
Ada Wong may have had a short stint in the live-action Resident Evil franchise, but her nearly perfect video game recreation, incredible action sequences, and fascinating performance by Li Bingbing helped establish to movie fans exactly why she is a fan favorite in the games. Luckily, Ada was able to be paired with her partner in crime Leon S. Kennedy to show the remarkable chemistry the two had together. While she may only appear in one game, Ada Wong managed to steal nearly every scene she was in.
Appears In:Resident Evil: Retribution Actor: Li Bingbing
Chris Redfield is arguably one of Resident Evil's most beloved and popular characters, so finally being able to see him on the silver screen in the franchise's fourth movie sent fans into a frenzy. Portrayed magnificently by Wentworth Miller, Chris was able to bring the calm, cool, and suave persona he's had in the games to the big screen as a full-blown mercenary who was prepared, willing, and able to fight his way out of any situation. The only drawback to his character is the fact that he only appeared in one film, Resident Evil: Afterlife.
Appears In:Resident Evil: Afterlife Actor: Wentworth Miller