Underworld: Rise of the Lycans(Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans) (2009, Movie)

Though it's the third Underworld movie, it's actually the first in the series, a prequel going back 1,000 years and detailing the rise of a breed of werewolves known as Lycans. It also traces the roots of the Lycans' bitter conflict with the ruling Death Dealers, an elite squad of vampires.

The highlight of this fantasy/horror hybrid is watching a pair of the best British character actors — Bill Nighy and Michael Sheen — shed their thespian respectability and unleash their inner beasts.

The story is simple, bordering on silly — and some fight scenes blur into each other. Still, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is surprisingly campy fun, mostly succeeding through the power of its lead performances.