Every Underworld Movie, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes

Fans and critics have shared opinions of the Underworld franchise, and Rotten Tomatoes is no exception.

The Underworld series is made up of action-horror films revolving around the ongoing war between vampires and werewolves, each trying to destroy the other. Amidst this conflict, the love story between Selene, a powerful vampire, and Michael, a hybrid being, is a recurring theme. Throughout the series, figures on both sides prove to have hidden agendas. At times, it's hard to tell who is an ally and who is an enemy. One group may be on the brink of extinction, but this might just be what they want the enemies to think. Eventually, even humans learn of the secret war.

The Underworld franchise, made up of at least five films and an animated short, has an interesting history. There have even been planned canceled crossovers with I, Frankenstein, Blade, and Resident Evil. Thanks to its fan base, an Underworld reboot had also been planned for the small screen. This is in addition to the possibility of more theatrical films. Critics and fans alike have shared their opinions on the individual Underworld films, and the Rotten Tomatoes aggregation site is no exception.

6

Underworld: Evolution (2006) - 17%

Underworld: Evolution is the first follow-up to the original Underworld film. The story starts out in 1202, when three vampire elders capture the powerful werewolf, William Corvinus, who is also the twin brother of the vampire elder Markus. Cutting to the present day, Markus has killed Kraven and Alexander Corvinus, or Lorenz Macaro, the common ancestor of the vampires and Lycans, starts an investigation. Half of a pendant once belonging to Sonja, the daughter of the vampire elder Viktor, is discovered. The other half is in the possession of Michael, who is in the present being taken to a safe house by Selene.

After escaping an attack from Markus, Selene recalls that she somehow recognizes the pendant. It comes to light that Markus is the first vampire, whose transformation was triggered after being bitten by a bat. William similarly became the first werewolf after being similarly bit by a wolf. A third sibling became the ancestor to the hybrids, including Michael. Markus made a deal with Viktor to stop William, transforming him into a vampire. Selene's father had been the one to build William's prison, only for Viktor to kill him and his family, sparing only Selene and transforming her into a vampire.

It soon comes to light, however, that Markus wants to free his brother to rule the world with a race of hybrids, and he learns the location of William's prison by drinking Selene's blood. In turn, Selene obtains hybrid powers by drinking Macaro's blood. In the final battle, Selene overcomes Markus and Michael overcomes William. According to Rotten Tomatoes, Underworld: Evolution has a rating of 17%.

5

Underworld: Blood Wars (2016) - 21%

Underworld: Blood Wars starts with the vampire covens on the verge of being destroyed by the Lycans. Both groups, however, are searching for Selene, either to avenge the death of Viktor or to find her daughter Eve, in the hopes of creating a race of hybrids. Through the intervention of the vampire Semira, Selene is pardoned by the coven, however, in exchange for her help, and she soon starts training new Death Dealers. Unfortunately, the pardon was all part of a plot: the new Death Dealers are slaughtered, and Selene is framed for the crime.

David and Selene escape to another coven, with David being revealed to be its heir. Meanwhile, Semira seeks to drink Selene's blood to obtain her power. During a Lycan attack, Selene apparently drowns and Semira is finally able to drink her blood. In another fight, Selene is revealed to have been revived and learns that Michael was killed. After overcoming the Lycans and David killing Semira, he and Selene are chosen as new elders. Selene is ultimately reunited with her mother, thanks in part to her telepathic connection. According to Rotten Tomatoes, Underworld: Blood Wars has a rating of 21%.

4. Underworld: Awakening (2012) - 25%

By Underworld: Awakening, the public at large has learned of the existence of the vampires and Lycans and the government seeks to harness their powers. The two species are fighting to the point of near-extinction. Soon, even Selene and Michael are captured. After being kept in stasis for twelve years, Selene is eventually able to break free. Learning she's not the only runaway, Selene soon starts having visions from another person's viewpoint. This leads her to a young vampire named David, who is tracking her. She also encounters weak Lycans who are tracking Selene's mysterious connection.

The other runaway turns out to be a young girl. While escaping with Selene and David, the girl is bitten by a Lycan and is revealed as a hybrid. Selene realizes that the girl is none other than her and Michael's daughter and is the one who helped free her. Eventually, it comes to light that the Lycans have developed a vampire-fighting corporation, Antigen, while posing as humans, in turn tricking the world into thinking the Lycans have gone extinct.

In turn, Antigen needs Selene's daughter, whom they have dubbed "Eve," for their own goals. By the end of the story, Michael is still missing, meaning Selene, David, and Eve are still tasked with finding out what happened to him. According to Rotten Tomatoes, Underworld: Awakening has a rating of 25%.

3

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) - 30%

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a prequel film that focuses on the origins of the Vampire-Lycan war. Notably, Selene only appears briefly toward the end, which features the opening scene of the first Underworld film. A war has broken out between the vampires and the original werewolves, who are unable to don human forms. Eventually, Lucian becomes the first of a new group that can, becoming the first Lycans. Lucian is raised by the vampire elder Viktor, who plans to raise him as the first of a race of slaves.

Meanwhile, humans seek Viktor's help from the growing number of werewolves. Growing up, Lucian falls in love with Viktor's daughter, Sonja. After Lucian is severely punished for rescuing her from other werewolves, Sonja helps Lucian escape with other Lycans, ultimately leading to her own imprisonment. Lucian attempts to rescue her, only for her to be executed in front of him at the hands of her own father. While Lucian manages to overpower Viktor and escape, he believes a new war is just starting. According to Rotten Tomatoes, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans has a rating of 30%.

2

Underworld: Endless War (2011) - 31%

Underworld: Endless War is an animated 2011 film made up of three short stories exploring the Underworld franchise's mythology, each set in a different period of time. In the first part, Selene is investigating accounts of three Lycan brothers in 1890s Paris, posing as nobles, styled as "Lords of the Crescent Wills." The three have also laid claim to a mansion that the vampires want for their own coven. Upon meeting the three lords, they believe they are at an advantage against Selene, though she soon proves them wrong.

The second part takes place around eighty years later, with Selene investigating what's left of the Lycan lords. Upon them seeing her, the lords concoct a scheme to kill her with other vampires and reclaim their mansion. While they manage to take down some vampires with them, the two once again underestimate Selene, leaving one lord dead and the other maimed. The third and final part deals with Selene's showdown with the surviving lord, and she now has Michael to help her. Meanwhile, the lord has come prepared with his own Lycan harem.

In the end, Selene muses that she may be fighting an endless war, hence the short film's title. According to Rotten Tomatoes, Underworld: Endless War has a rating of 31%.