For better or worse, the Resident Evil franchise always manages to remain relevant. It is a survival horror series that lives by the axiom that all publicity is good publicity. Capcom, despite mixed reviews, has managed to keep fans on the edge of their seats for decades.
The recent Resident Evil Netflix series may have been a flop, and Re:Verse, the delayed multiplayer component to Resident Evil 8, still isn't looking all that promising, but this has done nothing to dampen fans' enthusiasm for the franchise. Few things in Resident Evil seem to age particularly well, but that doesn't apply to the memes.
Updated on September 15th, 2022 by Tanner Fox: Though the series seemed to be in danger of sputtering out in the early 2010s, Resident Evil is back and better than ever. 2021's Resident Evil Village marked a new high point for the franchise, and a long-awaited DLC installment is expected to arrive in late October.
That said, despite the more grounded tone of the newer titles, Capcom just can't seem to stray too far from the series' staple silliness. From hammy voice-acting originals to hilarious logical flaws in the newer games, Resident Evil has more meme-worthy moments than any fan could keep track of.
"You Were Almost A Jill Sandwich."
Spoken by fellow S.T.A.R.S member Barry Burton moments after Jill Valentine was nearly crushed by a slowly descending ceiling, the line has been immortalized as one of the most hilarious Resident Evil memes ever. Only one of several examples of humorously bad English translations throughout the first few games, the line does have a bizarre way of summing up the clashing tones of Resident Evil which fans have come to love and expect.
One moment, Jill is banging against a locked door and seemingly moments from a brutal death, the next, her partner is making an awkwardly good-humored remark about it. It's the type of tonal clash which could only fly in a Resident Evil game.
Tank Control Terror
The 1992 PC game Alone in the Dark is often cited as the first true survival horror title, but the term wouldn't officially be coined until the debut of Resident Evil years later. As terrifying as it was—especially for the time—Resident Evil suffered from some serious flaws, one of the most notorious being its clunky control scheme.
While many RE fans argue that the sluggish controls add to the tension, they've definitely caused the older entries in the series to age at an exaggerated rate. Ironically enough, when Resident Evil adopted a more typical FPS approach in Resident Evil 7, fans found that to be equally controversial.
X Gon' Give It To Ya
Coming off the heels of Resident Evil 7, the 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2 did a lot to show that the series' revitalization was not just a fluke. Making waves for a myriad of reasons, it was perhaps the reintroduction of one of Resident Evil's scariest villains, Mr. X, that was most memorable.
While perhaps a case of low-hanging fruit, this meme was spawned by a mod that plays DMX's popular 2002 hit every time Mr. X appears. It was a simple but extremely versatile joke, ultimately proving to be yet another example of how Resident Evil fans can seemingly make anything about the games even more entertaining.
Chris Redfield
No, that's not a typo; Chris Redfield is, himself, a meme. Whether it be dawning a new face and physique in every installment, delivering awkward lines, or punching a boulder until it shakes free, Chris has embodied some of the strangest and most camp moments in all of Resident Evil.
However, the character remains among the most popular in the series, even having some of the best quotes in the Resident Evil franchise. This only affirms that what fans really love about Resident Evil is not just its compelling plots or iconic characters, but its ability to never take itself too seriously.
Pool of Manure
Resident Evil is a storied video game series that's undergone multiple transformations and taken on many new approaches in the quarter-century since it first debuted on the original PlayStation. Shake-ups and deviations from the norm brought about all-time greats like Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7, but the same drive for innovation spawned stinkers such as Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City, and Umbrella Corps.
Fortunately, Capcom seems to have a pretty good handle on what works and what doesn't these days, but there are still more than a few RE games worthy only of the manure pile.
Hewie The Dog
Only Resident Evil 4 could supply players the opportunity to free an ordinary dog from a bear trap and then have the payoff be that said dog aids in a boss fight against a giant ogre. It's this type of illogical yet brilliant outcome that marks when the Resident Evil games are at their best.
Needless to say, fans have immortalized this moment by producing an endless stream of memes dedicated to the dog's uncanny ability to arrive just in time and aid players against the monster. Not to mention that, for a dog who couldn't shake free from a bear trap, it sure came in handy for giant-slaying.
No, Thank You.
"Heh, Heh, Heh! Thank you!" are words that will live on in the hearts of RE fans until the series finally ends—and is inevitably rebooted again. Spoken, of course, by the shopkeeper from Resident Evil 4, it is one of only a few spoken lines the character has, and yet, he has become almost as iconic as any other character from the game.
This is a meme that doesn't just succeed in being funny but also serves as a reminder of the love and care that went into the games. Even aspects of RE that could be boring or mundane, such as an in-game shop, are enhanced.
I'm Redfield
Resident Evil may have more than a few recurring characters, but they're almost never portrayed with any kind of consistency, and Chris Redfield is the worst offender. Portrayed as a bit of a clueless jock in the original Resident Evil, Chris would eventually transform into a muscle-bound bodybuilder in Resident Evil 5. In Resident Evil 7, he looked so drastically different that fans couldn't tell whether it was supposed to be him, and, in the follow-up, he again looked completely different.
Given the outlandish and outrageous plotlines of the Resident Evil series, cohesion is hardly necessary, but, at this point, Chris' ever-changing face is starting to seem a bit ridiculous.
For Your Safety...
Playing with broken mechanics in any video game can be fun, but there is something extra appealing about abusing the AI programming in Resident Evil. Safe Rooms are a staple of every survival horror game, and, in RE, they often lead to as many laughs as thrills, which is why the memes surrounding them are so good.
Watching formerly terrifying enemies chase you relentlessly until they reach that one specific door that they can't enter is comedy gold. It's also a great commentary on the series as a whole that this has been a running gag all the way from Resident Evil 1 to Village. Other games use deliberate level design or tweak AI tracking, but not RE games.
Leon and Ashley
Thanks to gripping cutscenes and tense action, the Resident Evil games are often given a pass when it comes to their convoluted plots, and Resident Evil 4 is no exception. When the president's daughter is kidnapped, the U.S. government makes sure to send out every available resource. Except, their only available resource was one former cop from Raccoon City, apparently. Badass or not, it's clear that the writers didn't care to let logic get in the way of Leon's solo mission.
This illogical premise, as well as the sheer irritation of protecting one of the worst sidekicks in the Resident Evil franchise, has spawned numerous great memes. Demonstrating that even the negative aspects of the games have an inescapable charm to them.
The Ultimate Life Form
The antagonists of the Resident Evil universe don't seem to have a very good handle on things. Despite constant failures, flaws, and betrayals, Albert Wesker, William Berkin, and the rest of the Umbrella Corporation seem hellbent on developing uncontrollable biological weapons.
Their first go-around, seen during the events of the original game and its eventual prequel Resident Evil 0, was a disaster that saw B.O.W.s overtake the Spencer Mansion and escape into Raccoon City. Things don't get much better from there, of course; Birkin transforms himself into a monstrosity in Resident Evil 2, and Raccoon City is destroyed completely by the end of Resident Evil 3.
Ethan Winters Getting Hurt
Resident Evil 7 introduced a new protagonist to the series, as well as a new point of view and accompanying gameplay. While these changes refreshed the games, many weren't sure how they felt about the protagonist, Ethan Winters. Clearly, the franchise was going for a more grounded main character as opposed to the action-movie vibes of Chris, Leon, Jill, or Claire. However, as grounded and vulnerable as Ethan was at first made out to be, the sort of punishment he survives borders on the comical.
Countless memes address the elevated absurdity of an ordinary man like Ethan Winters surviving dismemberment on multiple occasions and still managing to vanquish the giant evil monsters. While Resident Evil Village's twist explained it away, it's a reminder that, despite Capcom's best efforts, even when trying to present a more grounded take on the series, Resident Evil just can't help itself.
Gimme An Egg
The inexplicable ability to carry multiple weapons and treasure troves of ammunition is an ever-present video game immersion issue, but it's particularly perplexing in the Resident Evil series. Most of the early games feature anomalous item boxes capable of teleporting their contents, but later games allow players to stuff entire arsenals into briefcases and back pockets.
Resident Evil 5 is particularly guilty of this, as every item and weapon, no matter the size, takes up the same amount of inventory space. This can lead to ridiculous instances in which Chris can't pick up a rife because he's holding too many eggs, or vice versa.
Lady Dimitrescu, "Lady D"
One of the most recent additions to the franchise, Lady Dimitrescu made a BIG impression on fans before the game even launched.
While in retrospect her role in Resident Evil Village wasn't as integral as many believed, her impact on the fanbase far exceeded any of the game's other new additions. While the memes surrounding Lady D span anywhere from goofy and nonsensical to downright vulgar, her popularity, and the popularity of the memes surrounding her, showed that the series' fan base was just as active as ever.
Master Of Memes
The early Resident Evil games were plagued with poor voice acting, terrible English translations, and jumbled character interactions—and yet, somehow, it worked. Jill Valentine being presented as "The Master of Unlocking" is without a doubt the most enduring meme of the entire franchise. While hilarious on its own, the fanbase has managed to keep the joke fresh over the years, which clearly mirrors the series itself.
The meme is the product of a terrible line from the first game, a game that managed to succeed in spite of all its glaring flaws. Moreover, the series which managed to be popular against all odds has now managed to revive itself yet again. The enduring legacy of this meme is a direct reflection of Resident Evil's own profound staying power.