Metascore

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 98 Ratings

  • Starring: Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Rhona Mitra
  • Summary: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans delves into the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires, known as Death Dealers, and the barbaric Lycans (werewolves). A young Lycan, Lucian, emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor, the cruel vampire king who has persecuted them for hundreds of years. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, the beautiful vampire Sonja, in his battle to free the Lycans from their brutal enslavement. (Sony) Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 14
  2. Negative: 4 out of 14
  1. Thanks to sturdy performances by holdovers Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy as well as tidy, unfussy direction by first-timer Patrick Tatopoulos, the creature designer who is taking the reins from originator Len Wiseman, the third installment in the successful franchise should be to the fan base's lycan.
  2. Although the presence of Mr. Sheen is initially distracting, it soon becomes the movie's greatest asset. There is, as it turns out, some benefit to having a real performance even in a formulaic entertainment like this.
  3. Reviewed by: Clark Collis
    58
    Sheen and Nighy do their best with the material, but this is easily the worst Underworld so far.
  4. 33
    Clumsy, ephemeral, and wholly unnecessary.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 53
  2. Negative: 5 out of 53
  1. JamesO.
    10
    A very good prequel movie. I definitely hope they make a 4th in the series sometime after the events of the 2nd movie. Definitely a must watch movie!
  2. CariN.
    8
    I wish I could actually decide to watch a movie based on a movie critic's review... but yet again they totally got it wrong about this movie. I wasn't expecting much when I went ahead and watched it but actually liked it almost as much as the first Underworld and definitely better than the second in the series. Any fan of this genre should at least see it once just for the epic werewolf (what seems like 1000 werewolves) stampede. Expand
  3. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is a very amusing fantasy/science-fiction (albeit the least science-fictitious in the series) flick with everyone's favourite mythological creatures: werewolves and vampires. No Kate Beckinsale in a tight outfit this time as we'll have to do with Rhona Mitra (As Sonja) who does just as good a job. They chose Michael Sheen (As Lucien) to portray the werewolf protagonist but this struck me as odd as he has this sort of innate clueless look on his face which is more comedic than it is fearsome. Good fights, lots of heads being chopped off, a good supporting cast and epic locations make for an enjoyable, underrated action movie. Expand
  4. "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" is the same tedious vampire vs werewolf movie. There's nothing new, but its Michael Sheen's brilliant performance that will keep you entertaining. Expand

See all 53 User Reviews