History of Resident Evil in Timeline

Resident Evil, or Biohazard in Japan, is a Capcom-created horror franchise spanning survival horror, third-person, and first-person shooter games. Players navigate environments filled with zombies and mutated creatures. The franchise has expanded into films, TV series, comics, novels, audiobooks, and merchandise, becoming the highest-grossing horror franchise.

1978: Dawn of the Dead (1978)

In 1978, prior to the revival of zombie films influenced by Resident Evil, the original Dawn of the Dead set commercial success levels for the zombie genre.

1996: Resident Evil credited with zombie revival

In 1996, the release of the Japanese video game Resident Evil is credited with beginning the revival of the zombie genre in popular culture, particularly influencing later zombie films.

1997: Marvel Comics prologue comic release

In 1997, Marvel Comics published a single-issue prologue comic based on the original Resident Evil, released through a promotional giveaway alongside the original PlayStation game.

1998: Publication of Hokkai no Yōjū

In 1998, Kyū Asakura and the staff of Flagship published the Biohazard novel Hokkai no Yōjū (北海の妖獣, lit. "The Strange Beast of the North Sea") in Japan.

1998: Publication of Resident Evil: The Official Comic Magazine

In 1998, WildStorm began producing a monthly comic book series based on the first two Resident Evil games, titled Resident Evil: The Official Comic Magazine, which lasted five issues. The first four issues were published by Image, while Wildstorm themselves published the fifth and final issue.

March 1999: Sales of first two Resident Evil games

By March 1999, the first two Resident Evil games had collectively sold approximately 11 million units worldwide.

1999: Resident Evil series listed in "Top 50 Games of All Time"

In 1999, Next Generation listed the Resident Evil series as number 13 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", praising its graphics, music, and storyline.

2000: Performance of Bioroid: Year Zero

In the summer of 2000, the musical horror-comedy Bioroid: Year Zero was performed in Japan by Super Eccentric Theater under the direction of Osamu Yagihashi from early July to late August. It took the perspective of the infected.

2001: Series sales and revenue

By early 2001, the Resident Evil series had sold 17 million units worldwide, earning more than $600 million.

2002: Influence on 28 Days Later

In 2002, the Resident Evil series was a primary influence on Alex Garland's script for the horror film 28 Days Later.

2002: Publication of To the Liberty and Rose Blank

In 2002, two additional Biohazard novels, To the Liberty by Sudan Kimura and Rose Blank by Tadashi Aizawa, were published in Japan.

2003: Release of House of the Dead

In 2003, the success of the first Resident Evil film adaptation and the games led to the greenlighting of several zombie films, such as the video game film adaptation House of the Dead.

2004: Resident Evil 2 influence on Shaun of the Dead

In 2004, Screenwriter Edgar Wright cited Resident Evil 2 as a primary influence on his zombie comedy film Shaun of the Dead, with the film's star and co-writer Simon Pegg also crediting the first game with starting the zombie revival in popular culture.

2004: Release of Dawn of the Dead remake

In 2004, the success of the first Resident Evil film adaptation and the games led to the greenlighting of several zombie films, such as the remake Dawn of the Dead.

2005: Release of Land of the Dead

In 2005, the success of the first Resident Evil film adaptation and the games led to the greenlighting of several zombie films, such as Romero's Land of the Dead.

2006: Publication of World War Z book

In 2006, World War Z was published as part of the zombie revival trend.

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2006: German Translation of Biohazard Novels

In 2006, the Biohazard novels "To the Liberty" and "Rose Blank" were translated into German and published.

July 2007: Release of Extinction Novelization

In late July 2007, the novelization of Resident Evil: Extinction, written by Keith DeCandido, was released two months before the film's release.

December 22, 2007: Release of Biohazard: The Umbrella Chronicles Side A Novel

On December 22, 2007, Osamu Makino's novel Biohazard: The Umbrella Chronicles Side A (Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles 1 in Germany), the first part of a two-part novelization of the game Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, was released in Japan and Germany.

2007: Documentary Undead Bootcamp starring producer Jeremy Bolt, director Alexander Witt, and choreographers Sharon B. Moore and Derek Aasland.

In 2007, the documentary "Undead Bootcamp" starring producer Jeremy Bolt, director Alexander Witt, and choreographers Sharon B. Moore and Derek Aasland, was released.

2007: Release of 28 Weeks Later

In 2007, the success of the Resident Evil film and games contributed to a wave of zombie films, including 28 Weeks Later.

January 2008: Release of Biohazard: The Umbrella Chronicles Side B Novel

In January 2008, Osamu Makino's novel Biohazard: The Umbrella Chronicles Side B (Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles 2 in Germany), the second part of a two-part novelization of the game Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, was published in Japan and Germany.

March 11, 2009: Publication of Resident Evil comic book prequel to Resident Evil 5

On March 11, 2009, Wildstorm published the first issue of a Resident Evil comic book prequel to Resident Evil 5, written by Ricardo Sanchez and illustrated by Kevin Sharpe and Jim Clark.

November 11, 2009: Release of the third issue of the Resident Evil comic book prequel to Resident Evil 5

On November 11, 2009, the third issue of the Resident Evil comic book prequel to Resident Evil 5, written by Ricardo Sanchez and illustrated by Kevin Sharpe and Jim Clark, was released by Wildstorm.

2009: Wildstorm reprinted Fire & Ice in a trade paperback collection.

In 2009, Wildstorm reprinted the four-issue miniseries Resident Evil: Fire & Ice in a trade paperback collection.

2009: Release of Zombieland and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

In 2009, Zombieland was released. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was also published.

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March 24, 2010: Release of the fourth issue of the Resident Evil comic book prequel to Resident Evil 5

On March 24, 2010, the fourth issue of the Resident Evil comic book prequel to Resident Evil 5, written by Ricardo Sanchez and illustrated by Kevin Sharpe and Jim Clark, was released by Wildstorm.

2010: Publication of Warm Bodies

In 2010, Warm Bodies was published, contributing to the zombie revival trend.

February 2011: Publication of the sixth and final issue of the Resident Evil comic book prequel to Resident Evil 5

In February 2011, Wildstorm published the sixth and final issue of the Resident Evil comic book prequel to Resident Evil 5, written by Ricardo Sanchez and illustrated by Kevin Sharpe and Jim Clark.

2011: Kim Newman's analysis on zombie revival

According to Kim Newman in the book Nightmare Movies published in 2011, "the zombie revival began in the Far East" mainly due to the 1996 Japanese zombie games Resident Evil and The House of the Dead.

Nightmare Movies: Horror on Screen Since the 1960s

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2011: Gross revenue of Resident Evil franchise

By 2011, the Resident Evil films had grossed over $600 million at the box office, bringing the franchise's estimated revenue to at least more than $1.9 billion in combined video game sales and box office gross up until then.

2011: Resident Evil sales reach 46 million copies

By 2011, the Resident Evil series had sold about 46 million copies and was estimated to have grossed at least $1.3 billion.

2012: Resident Evil film series becomes highest-grossing film series based on video games

By 2012, the Resident Evil film series was the highest-grossing film series based on video games.

2012: Release of Cockneys vs Zombies

In 2012, Cockneys vs Zombies was released as part of the zombie revival trend.

2012: Resident Evil Ranked Among Best Video Game Franchises

In 2012, Complex ranked Resident Evil at number 22 on the list of the best video game franchises. That same year, G4tv called it "one of the most successful series in gaming history."

2012: Reprinting of S. D. Perry's novels

In 2012, S. D. Perry's Resident Evil novels began being reprinted with new cover artwork to coincide with the release of the movie Resident Evil: Retribution and its novelization.

2013: George A. Romero credits Resident Evil

In 2013, George A. Romero credited the video games Resident Evil and House of the Dead "more than anything else" that popularized his zombie concept in early 21st-century popular culture.

2013: Release of World War Z

In 2013, World War Z was released during the zombie revival trend across different media.

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2015: Release of Biohazard The Stage in Japan

In 2015, Biohazard The Stage was released in Japan, focusing on Chris Redfield and Rebecca Chambers as Philosophy University in Australia experiences a bioterrorist attack. The production was handled by Avex Live Creative and Ace Crew Entertainment, under supervision from Capcom.

2015: Biohazard the Experience production in Japan

In 2015, Biohazard the Experience, the second Resident Evil play produced by Avex Live Creative and Ace Crew Entertainment, was performed. The story, set in 2015, follows thirteen survivors abducted and waking up in a mansion during an outbreak.

2015: Alex Garland credits Resident Evil as primary influence

In a 2015 interview with Huffington Post, screenwriter-director Alex Garland credited the Resident Evil series as a primary influence on his script for the horror film 28 Days Later (2002), and credited the first Resident Evil game for revitalizing the zombie genre.

December 2016: Publication of The Final Chapter Novelization

In December 2016, the novelization of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, written by Tim Waggoner, was published alongside the film's theatrical release.

2016: Analysis of Resident Evil Apocalypse zombies in Biopunk Dystopias

In 2016, the University of Liverpool book Biopunk Dystopias Genetic Engineering, Society, and Science Fiction (Lars Schmeink, 2016, p. 214) detailed Resident Evil Apocalypse director Alexander Witt's explanation that the zombies were made to be more aggressive and dangerous than the original film, created as "liquid zombie[s]' in terms of their relentless forward motion.

Biopunk Dystopias: Genetic Engineering, Society and Science Fiction (Liverpool Science Fiction Texts and Studies, 56)

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2019: Success of Resident Evil 2 remake

In 2019, despite a decline in zombie films, zombie video games remained popular, as seen with the commercial success of the Resident Evil 2 remake and Days Gone.

2020: Box office and home video sales of Resident Evil films

As of 2020, the Resident Evil films have grossed more than $1.3 billion in box office and home video sales.

December 2022: Sales of Resident Evil games

By December 2022, around 135 million Resident Evil games had been sold.

2023: Resident Evil 2 Remake is the best-selling survival horror game

In 2023, Guinness World Records recognized Resident Evil 2 remake as the best-selling survival horror game.

2023: Resident Evil 4 remake sales success

In 2023, the Resident Evil 4 remake sold more than three million copies in its first two days of release. It sold four million copies in its first two weeks, making it one of the fastest-selling Resident Evil games. In Japan, it was the best-selling retail game in its first week, selling 89,662 copies on PlayStation 5 and 85,371 on PlayStation 4.