I saw “Resident Evil” in theaters back in 2002 when it initially came out; I wasn’t familiar with the games at the time. There were no Rotten Tomatoes scores available then and I didn't look up reviews, so I went to see it without any prior knowledge. And I really loved it: the plot, the action scenes, that underground facility called "the Hive," Mila Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez being tough – all of it. Critics weren’t fans (only 36% on Rotten Tomatoes), but audiences seemed to like it better (67% approval). “Resident Evil” was an early illustration of how mainstream critics often miss the mark with horror films. Movies that try to be artistic frequently receive positive reviews, even when other important aspects don't quite work for most viewers. The recent "Beach House" is a good example – critics praised it (81% RT), while audiences generally disliked it (28%). Sadly, the subsequent “Resident Evil” films didn’t manage to replicate that initial movie’s spark and charm very often. Instead, I suggest checking out writer/director's previous film "Event Horizon."

Source on TMDB