Underworld

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Underworld

R

2003

2h 1m

Fantasy

Action

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

30%

Tomatometer

161 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Under cover of night, vampires engage in an age-old battle with their sworn enemies, the Lycans, a clan of violent werewolves. Selene, a vampire orphaned in the wake of a bloody Lycan attack, works for the vampire clan as a trained killer. When the Lycans take a mysterious interest in Michael Corvin, an exceptional mortal doctor, Selene struggles to save him from Lucian, a ruthless Lycan leader hell-bent on ending the vampire bloodline.

Critics Consensus

Though stylish to look at, Underworld is tedious and derivative.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/29/2010

3/5

Pulpy, punk-ish story with some intense violence.

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Empire Magazine

12/30/2006

2/5

In the end, it's more a role-playing game scenario than a plot -- although there someone would have worked out rules that make sense.

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Time Out

06/24/2006

These vampires have no teeth -- hell, they don't even fly.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

03/03/2024

2/4

The production and costume designs were clearly labored over, but like any polished exterior that's merely a fragile casing for an empty center, the film waves off character development for skin-tight leather and pouty brooding.

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

09/19/2023

3.5/5

One wishes that Kate Beckinsale got to have a little more fun as Selene and Kraven is a terrible villain, but the blue-filtered Matrix-rip off (action, costume, gun play) is very welcome. Plus: Nighy is having the absolute best time chewing the scenery.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

04/08/2023

Conspiracies and allegorical angles aside, this sleekly stylized monster mash ends up a big, muddy mess of bad guys: predator versus predator, and the winner takes the human race.

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Moon S

@MoonShineDivine Mar 14

Extremely underrated movie, watching this in 2026 and it still holds up says everything! The pacing and framing never leaves a dull moment, the special FX shockingly still look flawless by 2026 standards, this must have been extremely time consuming to achieve in 2003. All of the actors for the most part seem perfectly suited for their parts, especially for a movie that is meant to be primarily a gratuitous, action packed feature, the acting is quite good overall. Costumes and sets are exquisite! Lots of detailed scenes, textures and nuances that work harmoniously to sustain a consistently dark, brooding atmosphere. Watching this 23 years later, I noticed things I didn't before, it's the type of movie you could watch multiple times and discover litte nuances about it each time.

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Jacobinia B

@Jacobinia_Bridge23 Jan 28

Although deeply flawed, goofy and campy in moments, Underworld (2003) is worth the watch and crimminally underrated as one of the best horror-action films that I have seen a while. Kate Beckinsale , Michael Sheeh and Bill Nighy do shine the most with their charmastic and strong performances even if the plot can be messy and outperform others. It's stylish, beautifully gothic and action packed that it's worth a watch. Definitely recommend it, regardless.

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Thomas H.

@Fr8ght_Trian Jan 19

Underworld is the dumb love-child of The Matrix and Blade. If your brain is all the way off then it’s moderately entertaining.

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John P

@JohnP1949 Jan 10

One of the most underrated series. Kate Beckensale is absolutely fabulous.

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Its just Us E

@ItsJustUsEntertainment Dec 28

Another filthy series in vampire department straight classics!

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The T

@MovieEscape Dec 27

I go to movies to be entertained and escape. This movie delivers. Good story, good action and good acting.

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Len Wiseman

Director

Kate Beckinsale

Selene

Scott Speedman

Michael Colvin

Michael Sheen

Lucian

Shane Brolly

Kraven

Bill Nighy

Viktor

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Underworld: Evolution

17%

72%

Underworld: Evolution

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Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

31%

63%

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

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Underworld: Awakening

25%

62%

Underworld: Awakening

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Underworld: Blood Wars

21%

49%

Underworld: Blood Wars

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Preview: Rotten Tomatoes is Wrong About... Underworld

3:10

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Synopsis

Under cover of night, vampires engage in an age-old battle with their sworn enemies, the Lycans, a clan of violent werewolves. Selene, a vampire orphaned in the wake of a bloody Lycan attack, works for the vampire clan as a trained killer. When the Lycans take a mysterious interest in Michael Corvin, an exceptional mortal doctor, Selene struggles to save him from Lucian, a ruthless Lycan leader hell-bent on ending the vampire bloodline.

Director: Len Wiseman
Producer: Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Richard S. Wright
Screenwriter: Danny McBride, Kevin Grevioux, Danny McBride, Len Wiseman
Distributor: Screen Gems
Production Co: Screen Gems, Subterranean Productions LLC, Lakeshore Entertainment
Rating: R (Strong Gore|Some Language|Strong Violence)
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $51.5M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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