Kate Beckinsale has always had a dramatic side that she put to display in more serious roles during the late ‘90s, which is also how she gained recognition in the industry. But it was her foray into the action genre that truly let her dynamic presence shine on screen. It all started with 2003’s Underworld, in which she played a vampire assassin named Selena. While the plot of the movie was a win by itself, Beckinsale was a trailblazer in the role of the graceful and fierce heroine. The action-horror launched her into a full-fledged action heroine.
In the years since, Beckinsale has remained determined to take on female-led movies that allow her to showcase her range and physicality. The Underworld franchise expanded her horizons and landed her more movies like Contraband and Jolt. Her emotional and physical commitment to each role raised the standard for the genre.
Now, even two decades after her appearance as the Death Dealer, Beckinsale has returned to the big screen with Canary Black, which sees her as a CIA agent forced to betray her team and country to protect her husband. This list ranks all of Kate Beckinsale’s action movies to date, from 2003’s Underworld to 2024’s Canary Black.
11 Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
The third installment of the Underworld series is actually a prequel to the 2003 movie. Set centuries before the events of the first Underworld movie, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans focuses on the origins of the vampire-lycan war. It features Michael Sheen as Lucian, the first of the Lycans, who leads his people and falls in love with Sonja, the daughter of Viktor, a vampire elder, which creates hostility between the two races.
Works as an Origin Story
At the core of Rise of the Lycans was a gripping tale of forbidden love and tragedy. Sheen and Rhona Mitra launched a palpable on-screen chemistry that continues to be a memorable element of the entire franchise. However, the vampire-werewolf formula had worn out by then, which is why the movie wasn’t as much of a hit when compared to other installments in the franchise. Beckinsale only had a minor role in the movie, when she finally discovers that Viktor is responsible for the death of her family.
10 Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)
By the time the fifth entry in the Underworld franchise rolled in, better stories like True Blood and the Twilight movies had already found a comfortable spot in viewers’ rotation. So it’s only fitting that Underworld: Blood Wars culminated the series. In it, vampires are under threat of being obliterated by the Lycans, who are also consistently hunting Selene. She must not only face her greatest enemy, Viktor, but also find a way to finally end the centuries-old blood war.
A Glorious Finale, or a Misfire?
While Beckinsale brought her trademark ferocity and emotional range to the role, it was her character’s final film and it missed the mark as both a finale and a standalone entry. Underworld: Blood Wars had a convoluted plot, which never added depth or layers to the pre-established characters, and it was received with lukewarm reviews. It would have a higher spot if it weren’t for Beckinsale’s style during battle.
9 Underworld: Evolution (2006)
Picking up where the first movie left off, Underworld: Evolution follows Selene as she searches for answers to her unclear past. She teams up with Michael, a half werewolf, and goes on the search for Markus, the first vampire Elder. But before she can confront him, he awakens and reveals his true agenda – to use Selene’s memories to free his twin brother, William Corvinus, the first and most monstrous werewolf.
A Tightly-Paced Sequel
Underworld: Evolution was not entirely a flop. Its rich world-building and intriguing premise made the lore more interesting to uncover. In addition, Beckinsale fully embodied Selene’s emotional turmoil, her physicality, nuanced action skills, and sharp humor. She shared a doomed, Romeo-Juliet-esque romance with Scott Speedman’s Michael. What didn’t work were the poorly executed werewolf transformations and the awful use of CGI.
Every Underworld Movie, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
Fans and critics have shared opinions of the Underworld franchise, and Rotten Tomatoes is no exception.
8 Contraband (2012)
Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, who draws inspiration from a 2008 Icelandic movie, Contraband is an action-crime thriller that centers around Chris, an ex-smuggler, who has left his days of crime behind for a quiet life. But he gets pulled back into the game when his brother, Andy, gets involved with a ruthless crime boss. Chris soon discovers that those closest to him are also working on the wrong side of the law.
Doesn’t Utilize Beckinsale’s Talents
Contraband was criticized for its lack of originality and an unnecessarily complex plot. What could have been an average, entertaining thriller ended up wringing needless tension from every scene. The cast of the movie, however, is loaded with familiar names like Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, Diego Luna and J. K. Simmons. Kate Beckinsale’s experience in the genre also isn’t put to use, as the movie reduces her to Chris’ wife who sometimes, only sometimes, becomes an asset.
7 Whiteout (2009)
Whiteout is directed by Dominic Sena, and it is set in Antarctica. It follows Deputy U.S. Marshal Carrie Stetko, who is about to leave in three days, but until then, is the only law enforcement in the area. After finding a dead body, she has to solve the case of a murderous masked killer who has something to do with an old Soviet plane and is looking for his next victim.
Beckinsale Braves the Cold
In a tailor-made role for Kate Beckinsale, she brought grit, realism, and a steely resolve. She lived up to the stakes presented by the sub-zero setting and dominated the claustrophobic white visuals, driving the tension to its peak towards the end. However, Whiteout suffered from poor direction and execution considering other entries in the genre and tried to benefit solely from its cold and isolated setting, which is what made it a flop.
6 Underworld: Awakening (2012)
In Underworld: Awakening, Selene manages to escape imprisonment and discovers that she had given birth to a hybrid daughter. Both Selene and her daughter share the ability to see through each other’s eyes. Meanwhile, humans have found out that vampires and lycans exist among them and are preparing to wage an all-out war against them.
A Softer Triumph
Perhaps the most emotionally intense and incredibly moving entry in the franchise, Underworld: Awakening proves Beckinsale was reserving her true versatility until now. From her desperate but determined search for her daughter to their ultimate reunion, every scene saw her as equal parts ferocious and vulnerable. Directors Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein provided a slick, artistic, and thrilling platform for her to shine and she was effortless throughout.
5 Total Recall (2012)
A remake of the 1990 film of the same name, 2012’s Total Recall starred Colin Farrell and Kate Beckinsale in the lead roles. The former plays construction worker Doug Quaid, who grows suspicious of his ordinary memories of life on Earth. He pays Rekall a visit and asks the company to artificially infuse thrilling memories into his brain, which leads him to learn a terrifying truth – that he was a spy all along.
Beckinsale Is as Electrifying as Ever
While Paul Verhoeven’s classic was lauded for its use of unbridled violence, a cynical atmosphere, and piercing social critique, Len Wiseman’s remake falls a little behind. Regardless, the movie brings a visually stunning world to life and matches the tone in terms of action and paranoia. Farrell is excellent in his role, and so is Beckinsale, who plays his wife Lori, and is a major save with her vivacity and ass-kicking persona.
4 Canary Black (2024)
Directed by Pierre Morel and written by Matthew Kennedy, Canary Black is a fairly recent action thriller that stars Kate Beckinsale as Avery Graves, a CIA agent who finds herself embroiled in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with terrorists after her husband is suddenly kidnapped. Not only is she compelled to leave the force and seek help from a hacker friend, but Avery must also race against time and catch whoever is responsible before they cause her husband any more harm.
Beckinsale Takes Her Career to New Heights
While early reviews are showering praise for Beckinsale’s mesmerizing performance as the gritty heroine pushed to her limits and forced to betray her own country, they’re also calling Canary Black out as a loud and explosive thriller that relies on action more than entertainment. Despite being ridden with clichés, however, the movie seems to captivate fans because of its fast-paced, suspenseful, and complex narrative, as well as Beckinsale’s beauty and crushing personality.
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3 Jolt (2021)
Jolt marks Kate Beckinsale’s return to form as a femme fatale after five years of staying away from the action genre and indulging in rom-coms and psychological thrillers instead. She plays Lindy Lewis, a young woman with an uncommon neurological condition that causes her to enter into anger fits that stop only when she shocks herself with an electrode device. When Justin, her potential love interest, is murdered, Lindy’s condition is triggered and she goes on a revenge-fueled hunt to find those responsible.
A Refreshing Return to the Action Genre
Even though Jolt is a generic revenge thriller and doesn’t have a lot to offer in terms of originality, it is extremely enjoyable because of Beckinsale’s performance. She effortlessly slips into the role of an ex-bouncer, bringing a raw and commanding presence on screen. She also has a dramatic and unpredictable edge to her which she channels in the cathartic fight scenes. Overall, Jolt proves Beckinsale can pull off almost any role given to her.
2 Van Helsing (2004)
A Gothic action-adventure from director Stephen Sommers, Van Helsing revolves around the titular monster hunter, who is dispatched to Transylvania for a perilous mission with his sidekick in tow. He must not only solve certain mysteries and battle demons, but also put an end to Count Dracula’s devious plans of exacting a centuries-old curse on Anna Valerious’ ancient Romanian family.
Beckinsale Isn’t a Damsel in Distress
Sommers infuses Bram Stoker’s iconic tale with breathtaking action and rich production values to match. The scenes blend perfectly into each other, with equal parts opulence and intensity. Hugh Jackman is charming as the Victorian-era monster hunter and Beckinsale brings thrill and heart to her feisty princess who may be the only survivor in her clan, but she’s far from a damsel in distress. She displays her skills with weapons and flexes her athletic physique every chance she gets.
1 Underworld (2003)
The movie that put Kate Beckinsale on the map as an action heroine, Underworld arrived way before audiences knew they wanted a shared on-screen romance or war between vampires and werewolves. Set in a world where the two clans have been at war for centuries, Kate played Selene, a Death Dealer who tracks down and dispatches Lycans. As she looks for answers about the Lycans’ aggressiveness towards her kind, Selene finds out a shocking truth about her own existence and who really killed her family.
The Origin of an Icon
Beckinsale practically ushered in a new era for fierce and futuristic portrayals of femininity back in 2003 as vampire assassin Selene. She was lean and graceful, but lethal and ruthless when she needed to be, and the textures just made her a stronger character overall. Underworld may not have been a soaring success as a franchise, but it is a feast for the eyes. The Gothic atmosphere, infectious character relationships, and immersive action are what makes it a standout and worthy of more recognition in the action-horror genre.
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