Has the Resident Evil Franchise Been Overdone?

“Resident Evil” has long been a fan-favorite horror and zombie franchise, likely due to its heavy science themes that explore the creatures of the apocalypse, unlike many and most popular zombie franchises. However, every form of media for which “Resident Evil” has become famous has been rebooted in one way or another, but has the “Resident Evil” franchise been overdone? Even though in 2021, “Resident Evil” released a reboot titled “Return to Raccoon City,” Netflix released a show this month called “Resident Evil” that was completely unrelated to the most recent release before it. Below, we’ve gone into detail on “Resident Evil” as a whole, but most importantly, explore the most recently released show and how it compares and related to anything “Resident Evil” previously released, as well as question if the “Resident Evil” franchise has been overdone.

Resident Evil Video Games

The “Resident Evil” games, the horror games that started the craze behind the franchise, were first released in 1996 for the PlayStation with “Resident Evil.” “Resident Evil” games have almost constantly been released since the first game, with various other forms of media as well. Most recently, outside of the rebooted video game franchise, “Resident Evil” has released Village, the 8th entry in the original series of video games. There have also been several spinoffs within the “Resident Evil” franchise, which can be expected from a game a few decades old. Even as new “Resident Evil” experiences are being created, the first three games from the original video game series have been rebooted, turning them into modern masterpieces and slightly tweaking certain elements, from story to gameplay. Although it seemed as if a newly rebooted title was being released almost every month, it would appear later, which doesn’t bode well for the future of the franchise, it’s no surprise “Resident Evil” has joined along. Still, has the “Resident Evil” franchise been overdone?

Resident Evil Original Movies

The “Resident Evil” movies have been getting sequels since the release of the original film, from 2002 – 2016, and even with a 5-year break before the next release after the final film in the original franchise, 2021’s “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,” which was based on the first two games was released to some confusion. While the “Resident Evil” films did an incredible job of not being rushed or having too many random projects in the works simultaneously, outside of the games, it would seem as if now they are running left and right with the franchise’s future. Although the franchise maintained itself at one point, after 2021’s “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,” Netflix released their series, “Resident Evil,” another franchise reboot in 2022. With the release of two different reboots, especially both based on events from the games, one year after the next, it’s hard not to question if the “Resident Evil” franchise has been overdone. However, with how well the Netflix “Resident Evil” series has explored two different eras of the “Resident Evil” world, as well as how the show has stated that every event from every “Resident Evil” game exists and has happened within the world explored in the new Netflix series. “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” explored more characters from the video game franchise than the new Netflix series, which should help the film reboot maintain itself and attract audiences. However, compared to how deep the Netflix “Resident Evil” series dug into the history and past of video game favorite character Albert Wesker and the inner workings of the Umbrella Corporation, it’s no surprise that the Netflix series has stood out so well, especially compared to “Welcome to Raccoon City.”

Netflix Original Resident Evil Series

The newest addition to the “Resident Evil” franchise was the most recent release of “Resident Evil” on Netflix. The series explored characters both old and unique to the franchise with many dark twists, which the franchise has long been known for. Suppose either the “Welcome to Raccoon City” or the “Resident Evil” series must be chosen as the new continuation or reboot and become the new main series. In that case, I believe that “Resident Evil” would make a better fit. While I’d say that the “Resident Evil” franchise has been overdone, reboots of the games are coming out almost simultaneously with continuations of the series and two possible concurrent live-action series at once. Since “Resident Evil” was only released in July and “Welcome to Raccoon City” was a theatrical release, it’s hard to compare how well one has done compared to the other. However, as “Welcome to Raccoon City” included more well-known “Resident Evil” characters from the first two video games, “Resident Evil” did a more profound, more interesting, and original dive into Albert Wesker and the Umbrella Corporation before, during, and after the apocalypse.