The forgotten vampire franchise of the 2000s comes back to life on streaming just in time for Halloween

Critics and audiences don’t always agree. Although critical acclaim can improve a film’s reputation, there are many examples that prove that audience perception is the most important force. A typical example is Underworld. Despite being consistently panned by critics, the gothic action-horror franchise gained an extremely loyal following, becoming one of the most beloved vampire-werewolf sagas of its time. When Underworld debuted in 2003, it was a surprise hit. The film marked the directorial debut of Len Wisemanwho would have been uncertain about his prospects. But thanks to a slick marketing campaign and a distinct blend of leather-clad shootouts and gothic lore, Underworld struck a chord with audiences and quickly spawned a franchise. Now, years after the last installment, the original film and its sequel are experiencing a new wave of streaming popularity.

Underworld and its 2006 sequel, Underworld: evolutioncurrently rank side by side in sixth and seventh place among the most-watched films on the free streaming platform Pluto TV. The first film introduced audiences to a dark world where vampires and Lycans (werewolves) are locked in an age-old feud. Although the concept of warring supernatural clans was not new, Underworld brought a sleek, modern twist and a complex mythology that felt unique and refreshing. At the heart of the story is Selene (Kate Beckinsale), a deadly vampire “Death Dealer” whose life takes an unexpected turn when she falls in love with Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman), a human targeted by the Lycans. After being infected with the Lycan curse, Selene is torn between her loyalty to her people and her growing affection for Michael.

Despite scathing criticism, Underworld was a commercial success, grossing more than three times its production budget. The film’s passionate fan response was strong enough to spark a full-fledged franchise, and a sequel was quickly greenlit. Wiseman returned to the helm Underworld: evolutionwhich was released theatrically in 2006 and generated even greater revenue at the box office. While reviews were even less kind – the sequel’s Rotten Tomatoes score fell to 17%, compared to 31% for the original – audiences once again came out in force. Evolution earned an impressive $113.4 million worldwide against its $45 million budget, strengthening Underworld as one of the defining supernatural action franchises of the 2000s.

“Underworld” was almost never made

What makes UnderworldEven more impressive is the success of the project: the number of obstacles it had to overcome to succeed. In 2023, on the film’s 20th anniversary, director Wiseman reflected in an interview with Collider on the behind-the-scenes challenges that nearly derailed the project. According to Wiseman, the film was born out of Dimension Films’ simple desire to make a werewolf film. With little left to do, Wiseman was tasked with developing a concept from scratch. He eventually came up with the idea of ​​mixing vampire and werewolf mythology, adding a forbidden Romeo and Juliet-style romance to spice things up. His initial pitch was rejected by the studio, but Wiseman refused to abandon the idea. Over the next six months, he refined the story and created striking visual works to bring his vision to life. It was a move that convinced the studio to greenlight the project and ultimately gave rise to a fan-favorite franchise with five feature films, one short, and even the potential for more.

You can watch Underworld And Underworld: evolution for free now on Pluto TV.