Underworld Action Ranked from Best to Worst
Vampires, werewolves, and impossibly skintight PVC. What’s not to like? With a hefty helping of Blade and The Matrix, the Underworld franchise transformed an ancient war between these supernatural species into a full-blown, gun-toting action spectacle. Fronted by the deadly vampire Death Dealer Selene, the series quickly carved out its own gothic corner of early-2000s genre cinema, building a mythology rich with bloodlines, betrayal, resurrections, and epic supernatural family history.
Over the course of five movies, the Underworld saga expanded its world considerably, introducing vampire elders, Lycan rebellions, hybrid characters, and enough history to make your head spin. While the quality shifted along the way, the sheer ambition of this supernatural family saga kept audiences coming back for more.
If we look back at the journey, the franchise has evolved in fascinating ways. The original film, Underworld (2003), set the stage perfectly. It embraced the aesthetics of the early 2000s obsession with black leather, industrial nightclubs, and slo-mo gun fights, establishing iconic performances from Kate Beckinsale as Selene and Bill Nighy as the deliciously sinister Viktor. It managed to be slick, stylish, violent, and just the right amount of ridiculous.
The mythology began to truly deepen with Evolution (2006), where the chaos of the vampire hierarchy throws Selene and Michael into a desperate hunt for answers, uncovering the origins of their supernatural bloodlines. This installment expanded the lore by introducing key figures like Marcus, the first vampire, and William, the first werewolf, pushing the action and creature effects to new heights.
Following this, Rise of the Lycans (2009) provided a fascinating prequel, shifting the focus to the centuries-long war between the Vampire and Lycan species. This film drew considerable praise for centering the ancient history, featuring strong performances from Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy, and offering a more stripped-down, medieval setting that gave the saga a distinct emotional weight.
The narrative then shifted again with Underworld: Awakening (2012), which largely stripped away some of the operatic intrigue to focus purely on action. Selene awakens after years of captivity to discover humanity is aware of the supernatural conflict, turning the story into a high-octane pursuit. While it sacrificed some of the gothic atmosphere, it delivered a massive dose of spectacle, particularly with the emergence of a super-lycan.
Most recently, Underworld: Blood Wars (2016) dove back into the complex, tangled mythology, where Selene is pulled back into the war when Lycan leader Marius seeks her daughter. The narrative becomes even more convoluted, piling on new lore—including a snowy Nordic Vampire coven and further power upgrades—with a feeling of being perpetually hunted by both factions.
Ultimately, the evolution of the franchise shows a journey from stylish gothic action to sprawling, intricate mythology. Whether you prefer the original stylish violence, the expansive lore, or the pure action spectacle, the Underworld saga offers a compelling and endlessly entertaining world of immortal conflict.
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