# Underworld

> 2003 film by Len Wiseman

**Wikidata**: [Q164804](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q164804)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underworld_(2003_film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/underworld

## Summary

Underworld is a 2003 action horror film directed by Len Wiseman, serving as the first installment in the Underworld franchise of vampire-werewolf films. The film centers on a centuries-old war between vampires and lycans (werewolves) and introduced the character of Selene, a vampire Death Dealer who becomes entangled in the conflict. It was produced by Lakeshore Entertainment and released through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

## Key Facts

- **Title:** Underworld
- **Director:** Len Wiseman
- **Release Year:** 2003
- **Production Company:** Lakeshore Entertainment (founded 1994)
- **Distributor:** Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- **Official Website:** http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/underworld/
- **Wikipedia Title:** Underworld (2003 film)
- **Publication Dates:** September 8, 2003; January 29, 2004; September 19, 2003
- **Genre Classifications:** Action film, horror film, fantasy film, vampire film, romance film, girls with guns
- **Sequel:** Underworld: Evolution (2006)
- **Prequel:** Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
- **Part of Series:** Underworld (film series) — action horror franchise
- **Wikidata Description:** 2003 film by Len Wiseman

## FAQs

**What is Underworld about?**
Underworld depicts the centuries-long conflict between vampires and lycans (werewolves), following Selene, a vampire Death Dealer who hunts lycans. The story explores the hidden war between these supernatural factions and reveals the political intrigue within the vampire coven.

**Who produced Underworld?**
Underworld was produced by Lakeshore Entertainment, a film production company founded in 1994. The film was distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

**What genres does Underworld combine?**
Underworld spans multiple genres including action, horror, fantasy, vampire fiction, romance, and the "girls with guns" subgenre—a classification describing films featuring female protagonists who use firearms against antagonists.

**When was Underworld released?**
The film was released on multiple dates: September 8, 2003; September 19, 2003; and January 29, 2004 (home video release).

**What films followed Underworld?**
Underworld was followed by Underworld: Evolution (2006), also directed by Len Wiseman, and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009), a prequel directed by Patrick Tatopoulos.

**Where was Underworld produced?**
The film was produced with involvement from multiple countries including Germany, Hungary, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

## Why It Matters

Underworld matters as it revitalized the vampire-werewolf conflict genre in early 2000s cinema, establishing a franchise that would span multiple sequels over two decades. The film successfully combined action choreography with gothic horror aesthetics, appealing to audiences interested in supernatural mythology reinterpreted through a modern lens. Its commercial success justified the expansion of the franchise into multiple sequels, spin-offs, and related media, making it a significant property in the action-horror genre. The film also contributed to the resurgence of vampire cinema that characterized the early 2000s, alongside properties like Blade and the later Twilight series.

## Notable For

- First installment in the Underworld film franchise, which became a long-running action horror series
- Established the "girls with guns" subgenre entry featuring a female vampire protagonist
- Launched the character of Selene (played by Kate Beckinsale) as a franchise lead across multiple films
- Produced by Lakeshore Entertainment, a prominent independent production company active since 1994
- Combines six distinct genre classifications: action, horror, fantasy, vampire, romance, and girls with guns

## Body

### Production Background

Underworld was produced by Lakeshore Entertainment, a film production company established in 1994. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles and operates within the entertainment industry. The film was released through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, with the official website hosted at http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/underworld/.

### Release and Distribution

The film premiered in 2003 with multiple release dates: September 8, 2003 (theatrical), September 19, 2003 (in Germany), and January 29, 2004 (home video release). This staggered release pattern reflected the film's international distribution strategy, with theatrical releases varying by territory.

### Genre and Themes

Underworld occupies multiple genre classifications simultaneously. As an action film (sitelink_count: 70), it features sustained combat sequences and stunt work. As a horror film (sitelink_count: 79), it incorporates supernatural creatures and gothic atmosphere. Its fantasy film elements (sitelink_count: 48) include the mythological world-building of vampire and werewolf societies. The vampire film classification (sitelink_count: 10) specifically addresses the central mythology, while the romance film element (sitelink_count: 55) covers the relationship dynamics between characters. The "girls with guns" classification (sitelink_count: 18) refers to the sub-genre featuring female protagonists wielding firearms—a notable characteristic of protagonist Selene.

### Franchise Development

Underworld serves as the foundation for the Underworld film series, a franchise of action horror films (sitelink_count: 17). The immediate sequel, Underworld: Evolution (2006), was also directed by Len Wiseman and continued the narrative established in the original film. The prequel Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) explored the origins of the war between vampires and lycans, directed by Patrick Tatopoulos. This franchise structure—with entries spanning original, sequel, and prequel—allowed for expansion of the mythology across multiple installments.

### International Production Context

The film involved production ties to multiple countries: Germany (a Central European nation with complex modern history dating through various political entities including West Germany, Nazi Germany, the Weimar Republic, the German Empire, the North German Confederation, and the Holy Roman Empire), Hungary (a Central European nation with historical roots dating to 1000 AD), the United Kingdom (an island nation in north-west Europe with formal establishment dates in 1921 and 1927), and the United States (a North American nation established through independence in 1776 and recognized in 1784). These international connections reflect common practices in film production for broader market appeal.

### Technical Details

The Wikidata entry describes Underworld simply as "2003 film by Len Wiseman," with the Wikipedia title "Underworld (2003 film)" providing disambiguation from other uses of the title. The film represents a convergence of production resources, genre conventions, and franchise planning that characterized early 2000s genre filmmaking.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. The Movie Database
3. Underworld. Rotten Tomatoes
4. [Release info: Underworld. IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320691/releaseinfo)
5. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320691/releaseinfo/)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320691/parentalguide)
8. MusicBrainz
9. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/underworld-1/)
10. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=45322.html)
11. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
12. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/108735)
13. Online-Filmdatenbank
14. Bechdel Test Movie List
15. mymovies.it
16. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/1C31-D0A5-59A1-E4C6-9713-Z)
17. Danish Film Database
18. TheTVDB
19. Trakt.tv
20. FilmVandaag.nl