Underworld poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Kate Beckinsale, Scott Speedman, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, Bill Nighy ... see more see more... , Erwin Leder , Sophia Myles , Robby Gee , Wentworth Miller , Richard Cetrone , Kevin Grevioux , Zita Görög

A young man who has pledged his life to helping others finds himself in a pitched battle between two gangs of supernatural villains in this blend of horror story and action thriller. Michael Corvin (S... read more read more...cott Speedman) is a medical student who is heading home after a long day of school and work when he unexpectedly finds himself in the middle of what appears to be a rumble between two well turned-out street gangs. What Michael doesn't know is he has witnessed a skirmish between two deadly underground communities, unknown to the mortal world, who are battling for supremacy -- the Death Dealers, a tribe of vampires, and the Lycans, a band of werewolves. Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is a leading member of the Death Dealers who hears through the grapevine that the Lycans have plans to capture the aspiring doctor who witnessed their battle. Certain something is in the air, Selene begins following Michael around the city, and she finds herself growing emotionally attached to him. As Selene becomes more attracted to Michael, she becomes more convinced that the Lycans are planning a major attack against the Death Dealers, although vampire kingpin Kraven (Shane Brolly) is certain she's crediting the Lycans with more intelligence than they can muster. As Selene shadows Michael, she finds herself wanting to protect him, but her longing becomes a handicap when he's attacked by Lucian (Michael Sheen), the leader of the werewolf community, and the man she wants to save has now become a sworn enemy. Underworld was the first feature film from music video director Len Wiseman. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

82% liked it

457,262 ratings

Critics

31% liked it

157 critics

R, 2 hr. 1 min.

Directed by: Len Wiseman

Release Date: September 19, 2003

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: January 6, 2004

Get It:

Stats: 30,314 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Kate Beckinsale Selene Underworld (2003) Underworld (2003) Underworld (2003) Crouching underworld Micheal Corvin Lucian Underworld (2003) Underworld (2003) Underworld (2003) Underworld (2003) Underworld Underworld Underworld Underworld (2003) Underworld
Upload a Photo | View All Underworld Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (30,314)

  • MizturY0da
    May 14, 2012
    MizturY0da
    three stars
  • fb100000145236770
    May 13, 2012
    fb100000145236770
    Vampires vs. Werewolves, is all you need to know about "Underworld". When his came out, I remember thinking "bout time they made a movie about this!" This is the story of the Death Dealers(vampires) and the Lycons(werewolves) battling it out, trying to get a medical student nam... read moreed Michael(Scott Speedman) who had mistakenly witnessed a battle between what he thought was street gangs. Along the way, Michael falls in love with one of the leading Death Dealers, Selene(Kate Beckinsale). Meanwhile, the leader of the Lycons(Michael Sheen) is planning a major attack against the vampires. While the Dealers Leader, Kraven(Shane Brolly) seems to be hiding some secret, and escalating war ensues. This is kind of like a "Romeo and Juliet" type story, only with monsters instead of humans. The acting and story is what you would expect, just decent. But the effects and action is why you would watch this, and they deliver big. Rated "R", "Underworld" doesn't really hold back on much, and delivers on everything you would hope for. Horror and action fans alike should be pretty satisfied with this movie. If your not a fan of either, then don't watch, you won't like it.
  • EightThirty
    April 30, 2012
    EightThirty
    04/08/2011 (ONLINE)

    One of the COOLEST flicks!! When this first came out and I'd seen it, I just was wow'ed and was totally into this "Underworld" of Werewolves and Vampires. I'm a "Blade" fan so this was naturally enticing and it delivered what I expected and more so t... read moreo be true cause I watched it more than once.

    I mentioned in my "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" that I saw a fanmade edit which "Rise of the Lycans" and "Underorld" was edited into a single film, a straight to the point edit. That edit really told the story so well that everything I thought I knew was taken to another level coolness.

    Watching it back to back with the other installments really intensifies the "Underworld" experience and for me I loved every minute!
  • aquateen2
    April 2, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    I've always been a fan of the whole lycan vs vampire genre and this is one movie that fits right into the category. Underworld may be uninspired and outstretched but its unique style and amazing action se... read morequences make it something to howl about. Critics seem to be complaining about what it lacks in the substance of the characters and this is made up for with their personalities and their likability. Its got cool gothic overtones and it's perfect at being what it wants to be.
  • fb100002090596996
    January 19, 2012
    fb100002090596996
    A boring film with no amazing plot or stellar acting, only shooting, effects, and action. This is Twilight for adults, and of course, Twilight was a movie franchise I never enjoyed. I may see it again, if I really want to, just to make this review more accurate.
  • FrizzDrop
    January 18, 2012
    FrizzDrop
    For all the hype from the entranced fans of this monstrous (ha, pun) start to the Underworld franchise, this film isn't the best execution of a story involving vampire/Lycan warfare. The style of this film is dark, brooding, rain soaked, tawdry and deep. The sun no longer shines,... read more and these animalistic species are the forebearers of the Earth. I suppose this is some form of evolution on its own. Humans live their lives as if nothing has happened and they still don't know these creatures exist, which is suspect since the sun is out, and the two warring species have public shootouts in the subway stations. The tone, the action, and very subtle (almost nonexistent) romance between Selene and the changeling known as Michael was enjoyable if not substanceless and lean. The more we get into this story of revenge, the more convoluted and irritably shallow it all is. Instead of this being a simple vendetta against a clansman it's an all out war, which makes little sense as the entire reason it happened was one side's matriarch's fault. That said the characters are also annoyingly simple and none of their baser instincts or the reasons they are fighting at all make any sense. Because their actions made no sense I found Selene to be dull, Michael to be vacant body to pin as a romantic lead, and the elder vampires and Lycans just misinformed idiots. Though I liked the tone and the art direction, this film is so obviously overhyped for its use of intense gunplay between the two sides and the Romeo and Juliet vibe of the Selene/Michael romance. Their romance, by the by, is almost nonexistent. They don't speak to one another for more than a breath and the one time they kiss it's a way to trap him. I didn't find anything enjoyable in the way of character development, and if it weren't for the fact that vampire films rarely have substance or that the tone wasn't so moody it would seem like this film neither made any sense to make nor watch.
  • fb100000257973100
    November 21, 2011
    fb100000257973100
    There are many ways to tell the tale of vampires. From the traditional stake-in-the-heart myths to the one about vampires sparkling. But, this is the first time I have seen a vampire film give a medical and logical reason behind the vampires. In fact, that might just be one of th... read moree main reasons why I consider Underworld one of the best vampire films from the past decade. (2000 - 2009)

    The story is very much like Romeo and Juliet: two people from opposite families that are at war with each other and our two main love birds try to fight through the hatred. Only replace them with Death Dealers (vampires) and Lycans (were-wolves) and make them clans and a lot of blood, sensuality, and stunts and scenes from The Matrix and you get this film in a nutshell.

    Okay, I need to talk about my opinion on the vampires and werewolves, because I do have a few thoughts that I want to stress. First off, with the wide spread appeal of vampires in cinema and in the media as of now, the mythology has been altered to no end with the most common element being that they are perverted, depressed, and hate themselves. Here, along with the reasoning for them is a disease caused by a virus, the vampires either accept what they are with no complaints or they just deal with it. These are what they should be: beautiful to us humans, then hideous and terrifying to their victims. Trust me: they get pretty nasty when they fight. While coping the Matrix quite a bit.

    Now for the film itself. While I do like the script and think it was well written in some aspects, the acting was stale. I mean, I understand that this film was made with teenage - mid 30's men with the women in tight black leather and the explosive fighting, but I wish that there was some more meat to it. Don't get me wrong, there is a plot with background information that explains most of what is going on, but I would of liked to have more development from the characters.

    The acting is stale, as I have said. There was really nothing that stood out to me in this film like I would of liked, but what we did get was some beautiful eye candy to gaze at. Mostly from Kate Beckinsale, but that I just me. She is an okay actress, but I would of liked more emotion from her either then furious and determined. I understand she has a job to do and she likes it, but showing some emotion will not kill you, darling.

    Len Wiseman: you are not a good director. I am sorry, but you play this movie too much as a way to showcase special effects and not enough with telling the story. Plus, you borrowed so much from so many other films that it pains me to say this, but you are one of the reasons why this film is having the rating I am giving it and not a perfect rating. Other then the effects (which are good), you don't let the film breath and grow. It is from one action shot to a determined shot, to another action shot with guy eye candy thrown in. But, with telling what parts of the story you do tell, it was not that bad and refreshing. Maybe focus on the story a bit more next time.

    With vampires and werewolves in cinema, there are better films then this. But within the past decade, this is one of the best. If anything, watch this film for the mythology of the vampires, the great stunt works, and, of course, for Kate Beckinsale. Very entertaining and watchable, though slow.
  • phubbs1
    November 19, 2011
    phubbs1
    I loved this idea, loved it, I love vamp and werewolf movies, brooding, dark, gothic and violent, just for adults, the way it should be, its just alitte too cgi heavy for me. The Lycans are just not believeable and look waaay too plastic which is such a shame, also the ending wit... read moreh the vamp/werewolf hybrid is very flat (a skinny 'Incredible Hulk' springs to mind).

    I like the fact they tried to do something without cgi with 'Corvin's' hybrid character but its just looks too plain, nothing thrilling a tall plus they just seemed to spray him all black..that's its, nothing more!?. Its still rocks and comes close to a new 'Crow' style flick (if it had some harder tunes in there), Beckinsale is gorgeous and Nighy is excellent, close but just misses, but because it's vamps and werewolfs I just cant say no hehe.

    Kudos for handling two major horror franchises together in a face off with relative success, unlike 'AvP'.
  • theunknownhobo
    July 17, 2011
    theunknownhobo
    I really like the Underworld movies and its not just because 90% of the cast are hot. I think it takes the whole vampire vs werewolf storyline that has been told and thousand times to a new and spontenously intelligent level. Awesome movie.
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    July 14, 2011
    StarCrossedVoyager
    A fairly good and interesting film with a good cast and good performances (especially from Sheen and Nighy) however I felt that I needed to know about the film before I saw it. I found it confusing and difficult to follow at times as it just jumped ahead quite fast. I don't reall... read morey know what the basic premise is eg the fight between the Death Dealers and the Lycans.

View All Underworld Reviews

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers
September 25, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

'Your incompetence is most taxing,' says the chief vampire (Bill Nighy). A line that pretty much nails this rusty Blade.

Owen Gleiberman
September 24, 2003
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

The sort of movie in which the head vampire telegraphs his evil by using a cell phone and dressing like the Kinks' Ray Davies in the early '80s. Full Review

Richard Roeper
September 22, 2003
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

I've been waiting a long time to see a Shakespearean werewolf vampire movie and here it is. Full Review

David Edelstein
September 20, 2003
David Edelstein, Slate

125 minutes is a long time to stare at a movie that's basically in bleached blue-and-white with occasional splotches of brick red. Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
September 20, 2003
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

By any reasonable standard, this dark vampire epic -- all massive overacting, cologne-commercial design and sexy cat suits -- sucks. Full Review

Desson Thomson
September 19, 2003
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

It needs a wooden stake and a silver bullet through its script.

Ann Hornaday
September 19, 2003
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

For all its slick, neo-noir style, Underworld brings very little that's new to a hoary genre, except for the cliches and conventions of other hoary genres.

Claudia Puig
September 19, 2003
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Features some of the year's most laughable dialogue. Full Review

Peter Howell
September 19, 2003
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Wiseman ... seems vastly more concerned with making a fashion statement than scaring the bejesus out of us. Full Review

Peter Hartlaub
September 19, 2003
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

Could use script transfusion, or at least a few quarts of levity. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Underworld: Evolution
    Underworld: Evolution (95%)
  • Blade II
    Blade II (87%)
  • Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans
    Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans (97%)
  • A Life Less Ordinary
    A Life Less Ordinary (50%)

More Movies like Underworld

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Lucian: I've tasted his flesh. Just two days till the full moon. Soon he will be a lycan. Soon he will come looking for us.
    • Kraven: Let me tell you a little something about your beloved dark father. He's the one that killed your family. Not the Lycans. He never could follow his own rules. Said he couldn't abide the taste of lifestock. So, every once in a while, he'd go out and gorge himself on human blood. I kept the secrets, and cleaned up the mess. But he's the one who crept room to room that night, dispatching everyone close to your heart. But when he got to you, he just couldn't bear the thought of draining you dry. You, who reminded him so much of his precious Sonja, the daughter he condemned to death.
    • Viktor: There is a good reason why these rules were created, and they are the only reason we have survived this long!
    • Viktor: Your incompetence is becoming most, *taxing*.
    • Singe: For years, we've been trying to combine the bloodlines. And for years, we've failed. It was useless. Even at the cellular level, our species seemed destined to destroy each other. Yet the key, we knew, was to locate the rarest of bloodlines. A direct descendant of Alexander Corvinus Hungarian, a warlord, who came to power in the early seasons of the fifth century. Just in time to watch a plague ravage his village. He alone survived. Somehow, his body was able to change the disease, mold it to his benefit. He became the first true immortal. And years later, he fathered at least two children who inherited the same trait.
    • Selene: [voiceover] Though I cannot predict the future, the consequences of this night will reverberate through the halls of both great covens for many years to come. Two vampire elders have been slain, one by my own hand. Soon, Marcus will take the throne, and a tide of anger and retribution will spill out into the night. Differences will be set aside. Allegiances will be made. And soon, I will become the hunted.
Submit a Fact | View All

Underworld : Watch Free on TV

Underworld Trivia

  • Who played in these movies: - Last days of disco - Brokedown palace - Haunted - Click - underworld - Tiptoes - van helsing   Answer »
  • Which of these names was NOT a character in the movie Underworld?  Answer »
  • Who plays the 2 main roles in Underworld Evolution?  Answer »
  • in what movie and its sequal does kate beckinsale play a vampire involved in an ongoing war with lycans  Answer »
More Underworld Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Underworld Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Underworld to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Underworld News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

butterfly34363 Skin by butterfly34363
2388 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins