A futuristic action film that flopped in theaters but thrived on home video

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Released in 2006, Ultraviolet was a critical and commercial failure that struggled to find its footing at the box office. Despite its poor reception, the science fiction thriller eventually turned a significant profit through the rental market, proving that a film's initial theatrical run does not always define its ultimate success.

Directed by Kurt Wimmer, Ultraviolet depicts a mid-21st-century dystopia where a biotechnological accident creates hemophages, vampire-like mutants with enhanced abilities but short lifespans. The story follows Violet Song Jat Shariff, played by Milla Jovovich, as she rebels against the ArchMinistry, a fascist world government led by the secret hemophage Ferdinand Daxus. The film features a unique, stylized aesthetic and action sequences utilizing a fictional martial art known as Gun Kata.

Production took place in 2004 across China, including Hong Kong and Shanghai, with the film shot entirely on high-definition video. Despite the ambitious premise, the final product faced harsh criticism. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that only 9% of 81 critics provided positive reviews, while Metacritic assigned it a score of 18 out of 100. Critics frequently cited the derivative action scenes and poor CGI as major flaws, with some reviewers labeling the project a lifeless, synthetic experience.

The film opened in North America on March 3, 2006, grossing approximately $31 million worldwide against a $30 million budget. While this performance made it a box-office bomb, the film found a second life on home media. Following its June 27, 2006, release on DVD and Blu-ray, it generated over $35.1 million in rental sales. Ultimately, the project turned a profit of more than $36 million, highlighting the stark contrast between its theatrical reception and its performance in the home entertainment market.

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