The Two Main Approaches:
1. Chronological by Story: This approach follows the events of the games as closely as possible, making it the most "canon" option.
2. Chronological by Release: This follows the order they were released, which is the most common way fans experience the series.
Chronological by Story (Canon Order):
1. Resident Evil: Damnation (2012): This movie is actually a prequel to *Resident Evil: Degeneration* and set in the *Resident Evil 5* timeline.
2. Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008): This movie is set between *Resident Evil 4* and *Resident Evil 5*.
3. Resident Evil (2002): This movie is loosely based on the first game.
4. Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004): This movie continues the story from the first film and is partially based on *Resident Evil 2*.
5. Resident Evil: Extinction (2007): This movie picks up where *Apocalypse* left off and has elements from *Resident Evil 3: Nemesis* and *Resident Evil: Code Veronica*.
6. Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010): This movie is set directly after *Extinction* and continues the story from the games.
7. Resident Evil: Retribution (2012): This movie is a direct continuation of *Afterlife* and continues the story from the games.
8. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017): This movie is a direct continuation of *Retribution* and is the final film in the main series.
Chronological by Release:
1. Resident Evil (2002)
2. Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)
3. Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
4. Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)
5. Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
6. Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)
7. Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)
8. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017)
Important Notes:
* Loose Adaptations: The films, while drawing inspiration from the games, take significant liberties with the story and characters.
* Anime Films: The two animated films, *Degeneration* and *Damnation*, are considered canon by many fans, but they have a separate storyline and are not crucial to the overall narrative.
* Reboot: A *Resident Evil* reboot film is being developed, with the release date still to be announced.
Ultimately, the best order to watch the films depends on your preference. If you're looking for a more accurate adaptation of the game story, then the chronological by story order is recommended. If you're simply looking for an entertaining action series, then watching them in release order is perfectly fine.