The Underworld franchise is what happens when you throw gothic horror, fast-paced action, and centuries of supernatural grudges into a blender and then pour it out in slick leather and blue-tinted moonlight. Across five films, it's given us an enthralling vampire vs. werewolf saga that's as much about personal loyalty and betrayal as it is about claws, fangs, and impossibly graceful midair flips.
Whether you're a longtime fan revisiting the story or a newcomer curious about where to start, here's how you can watch every Underworld movie in release order on streaming services like Prime Video, and why it's worth watching years after they hit theaters.
Underworld (2003)
Underworld, the movie that started it all, drops us right into the shadows of an urban battlefield, where vampires and lycans (werewolves) have been locked in a secret war for centuries. Kate Beckinsale instantly became a genre icon as Selene, a no-nonsense Death Dealer out for revenge against the lycans who slaughtered her family.
Underworld reimagines vampire mythology with a modern industrial-goth aesthetic and bullet-laden set pieces. It's ideal for viewers who loved Blade (1998) but wanted more lore, or for anyone who prefers their supernatural creatures brooding in latex rather than sparkling in sunlight, like Twilight (2008). Its success laid the groundwork for a whole series, and Selene's stoic charisma is a huge part of why we're still talking about it 20 years later.
Underworld: Evolution (2006)
Picking up right where the first film leaves off, Underworld: Evolution takes the franchise deeper into its own mythology. Selene and hybrid ally Michael (Scott Speedman) are on the run, hunted by Markus Corvinus, the very first vampire and, inconveniently, one of the most dangerous beings ever created.
The sequel is bigger, bloodier, and more operatic, with high-flying combat and sweeping revelations about the vampire-lycan war's origins. If the first Underworld is a stylish mix of horror and action, Evolution is a brilliant gothic fantasy epic. It's perfect for viewers who like their sequels faster, gorier, and more lore-filled. It's sort of like The Matrix Reloaded (2003) but with more fangs and fur.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
A prequel that ditches Selene entirely, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans rewinds the clock to tell the tragic origin of the war. Michael Sheen delivers one of his most passionate performances as Lucian, the first powerful lycan, whose forbidden romance with vampire elder's daughter Sonja (Rhona Mitra) sparks centuries of bloodshed.
This movie is the franchise's Romeo and Juliet (1996) meets Gladiator (2000) chapter, perfect for viewers who want more world-building and political intrigue than modern-day firefights. It's also the most human story in the saga, even if most of the characters aren't technically human.
Underworld: Awakening (2012)
Underworld: Awakening sees Selene wake up after a long cryogenic nap to discover that humans now know vampires and lycans exist and are actively hunting them. The world has changed, and so has Selene, especially after a revelation that shifts her entire reason for fighting.
Awakening turns the series into a dystopian chase thriller, ramping up the stakes with government labs, brutal action, and a tighter, almost relentless pace. It's the fastest-moving entry, perfect for fans who want less political scheming and more direct supernatural combat. If you liked the biohazard thrills of Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), the post-apocalyptic supernatural battles of Daybreakers (2010), or the human vs. monster paranoia of Blade II (2002), Awakening is right in your lane.
Underworld: Blood Wars (2017)
In Underworld: Blood Wars, Selene is caught between hostile vampire covens and relentless lycan packs, both of whom want what only she can give. With new allies and an expanded map of the Underworld's supernatural factions, Selene faces her deadliest battles yet.
Blood Wars delivers on the franchise's promise of slick action but also expands its mystical elements, making it ideal for fans who loved the layered politics of Game of Thrones (2011) but want it filtered through a supernatural action lens. It also shows Selene at her most powerful, reminding us why she's one of the most enduring action heroines of the 21st century.
