Honestly, if you grew up in the early 2000s, you couldn't escape the blue-tinted, rain-soaked aesthetic of the Underworld movies. It was everywhere. We’re talking about a franchise that basically survived on a diet of latex suits, dual-wielding Berettas, and a perpetual feud between posh vampires and scruffy werewolves. But if you're trying to binge-watch them today, things get messy fast. You’ve got prequels, sequels that feel like reboots, and an animated series that most people totally forgot existed.
Getting the underworld movie series in order isn't just about dates. It's about deciding if you want the story as it was told or as it actually happened in the timeline.
The Release Order: How We All Saw It
Most people suggest just watching them in the order they hit theaters. It’s less confusing. You start with the mystery of why these two species hate each other and slowly peel back the layers of betrayal.
Underworld (2003)
This is the one that started the whole "Death Dealer" craze. Kate Beckinsale plays Selene, an elite vampire assassin who discovers that the war she’s been fighting for centuries is built on a massive pile of lies. She falls for Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), a human who is more than he seems. It’s got that classic Matrix-meets-Blade vibe that was so huge at the time.
Underworld: Evolution (2006)
Pick up right where the first one ended. Literally, like minutes later. This movie dives deep into the "Corvinus Strain" and introduces the big bads of the past: Marcus and William. It’s bloodier, faster, and explains why Selene’s family was actually murdered.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
Suddenly, we’re in the middle ages. This is a prequel. No Kate Beckinsale (mostly). Instead, we follow Lucian (Michael Sheen) and his forbidden romance with a vampire princess. It’s basically Romeo and Juliet but with more fur and decapitations.
Underworld: Awakening (2012)
The series jumps into the future here. Humans have figured out that monsters exist and they aren't happy about it. They call it "The Purge." Selene wakes up from a cryogenic sleep to find out she has a daughter. It’s a bit of a shift in tone, leaning way harder into sci-fi than Gothic horror.
Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)
The final entry—so far. Selene is back at it, fighting off a new Lycan leader named Marius while trying to protect her daughter’s bloodline. It returns to some of the colder, European coven vibes of the earlier films.
Wait, What About the Anime?
Hardcore fans will tell you not to skip Underworld: Endless War (2011). It’s a three-part animated short that covers different time periods. It’s actually pretty cool because it shows Selene hunting Lycan brothers across three different eras: 1890, 1967, and 2012. If you’re a completionist, you’ve gotta find this one.
The Chronological Order: Living the History
If you want to experience the war from the 13th century to the near future, you have to shuffle the deck. This is for the folks who want the lore to hit in a straight line.
- Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (Sets the stage in the 1400s).
- Underworld: Endless War (Part I) (1890 Paris).
- Underworld: Endless War (Part II) (1967 Paris).
- Underworld (The modern-day start).
- Underworld: Evolution (The immediate fallout).
- Underworld: Endless War (Part III) (Set just before Awakening).
- Underworld: Awakening (The human uprising).
- Underworld: Blood Wars (The final confrontation).
Watching it this way makes the betrayal of Viktor feel much more immediate. You see him as a tyrant in Rise of the Lycans first, so when Selene discovers the truth in the 2003 film, you’re already screaming at the screen. It changes the perspective entirely.
Why the Critics Were Wrong (Mostly)
Let's be real: critics hated these movies. Rotten Tomatoes scores for the franchise are, frankly, brutal. Most hover in the 20% to 30% range. But the audience scores? Usually much higher. Why the gap?
Critics saw "style over substance." They saw another leather-clad action flick. But fans saw a surprisingly deep mythology. The creator, Kevin Grevioux (who played Raze), actually based the vampire-werewolf conflict on a genetic virus rather than magic or religion. No crosses. No garlic. Just biology. That "science-based" approach to monsters was fairly unique before every YA novel started doing it.
Also, the practical effects were insane. Patrick Tatopoulos, who directed the third film and did creature design for the others, used actual suits for the Lycans. Those weren't just CGI blobs; there were guys on stilts in those costumes. It gives the fights a weight that you just don't get in modern Marvel movies.
Fun Facts You Probably Missed
Did you know Kate Beckinsale actually met her future husband, director Len Wiseman, on the set of the first movie? And her ex, Michael Sheen (who plays the Lycan leader Lucian), was also right there. Talk about an awkward lunch break at the craft services table.
Another weird detail: the blue tint. The filmmakers used a specific "bleach bypass" process in post-production to give the movies that signature icy look. If you watch a clip without it, the whole thing looks surprisingly sunny and cheerful, which totally ruins the mood.
Where Does the Series Go From Here?
There’s been talk of a TV series for years. Len Wiseman has mentioned it in interviews, saying it would be a "pretty big departure" from the films. Kate Beckinsale has been back and forth on whether she’d ever wear the suit again. In 2018, she said she was done, but by 2021, she seemed a bit more open to the idea if the script was right.
The reality is that Underworld occupies a weird space in cinema. It’s not quite a blockbuster, but it’s more than a cult classic. It’s a staple of the "January release" window—those movies that aren't meant for Oscars but make a ton of money from people who just want to see something cool.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Rewatch
If you're planning to dive back into the underworld movie series in order, here’s how to make it better:
- Skip the trailers: The trailers for Awakening and Blood Wars are notorious for spoiling major character deaths and plot twists. Just go in blind.
- Watch the Extended Cuts: The first film has an unrated extended version that adds about 12 minutes of character development. It actually makes the romance between Selene and Michael feel a bit more earned.
- Pay attention to the eyes: The color of a vampire's eyes in this series tells you their age and power level. The Elders have that piercing electric blue/white, while the younger ones are more muted.
- Look for the "Corvinus" name: It pops up in every single movie. Tracking that bloodline is the key to understanding how the hybrids work.
The best way to enjoy these is to lean into the melodrama. It’s a Gothic soap opera with guns. Don't overthink the physics of Selene jumping off a 20-story building and landing without a scratch. Just enjoy the rain.
If you’re looking to start tonight, grab the original 2003 film first. Even with all the sequels and prequels, the chemistry between the cast in that first outing is still the gold standard for the franchise. It’s moody, it’s loud, and it’s exactly what a monster movie should be.
Check your local streaming services—these movies tend to hop between Max, Hulu, and Netflix every few months. If you can find the Legacy Collection on Blu-ray, that’s usually the best way to get the animated shorts too. Happy hunting.
Next Steps: You should verify which streaming platforms currently host the "Legacy Collection" versions, as they often include the Endless War animated shorts that are missing from standard digital storefronts. Additionally, if you're interested in the lore, looking up the Underworld: Blood Enemy novel provides a non-canon but fascinating alternate origin story for the war.