Underworld (2003 film)

Underworld
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Len Wiseman
Produced by	Tom Rosenberg Gary Lucchesi Richard Wright
Screenplay by	Danny McBride
Story by	Len Wiseman Kevin Grevioux Danny McBride
Starring	Kate Beckinsale Scott Speedman Michael Sheen Shane Brolly Bill Nighy
Music by	Paul Haslinger
Cinematography	Tony Pierce-Roberts
Edited by	Martin Hunter
Production company	Lakeshore Entertainment
Distributed by	Screen Gems
Release date	September 19, 2003 (2003-09-19)
Running time	121 minutes
Country	United Kingdom Germany Hungary United States
Language	English
Budget	$22 million
Box office	$95.7 million

Professional ratings
Review scores
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Underworld is a 2003 action horror film directed by Len Wiseman and written by Danny McBride, based on a story by McBride, Kevin Grevioux, and Wiseman. The film centers on the secret history of vampires and lycans (an abbreviated form of lycanthrope, which means werewolf). It is the first installment in the Underworld franchise. The main plot revolves around Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a vampire Death Dealer hunting Lycans. She finds herself attracted to a human, Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), who is being targeted by the Lycans. After Michael is bitten by a Lycan, Selene must decide whether to do her duty and kill him or go against her clan and save him. Alongside Beckinsale and Speedman, the film stars Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, and Bill Nighy.

An international co-production between companies from the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, and the United States, the film was released on September 19, 2003. Upon its release, the film received generally negative reviews from critics, but a smaller number of reviewers praised elements such as the film's stylish Gothic visuals, the "icy English composure" in Kate Beckinsale's performance, and the extensively worked-out vampire–werewolf mythology that serves as the film's backstory. The film grossed $95 million against a production budget of $22 million. The film was followed by Underworld: Evolution, released three years later, and by three other films.