If the 1980s helped to define what an action movie could be, then the 90s perfected the formula to deliver some of the most thrilling films we’ve ever seen. The decade helped spawn entire franchises that are still remembered fondly to this day, even if they weren’t necessarily a hit with critics. Case in point: Brendan Frasier’s The Mummy. The action adventure classic scored mixed reviews from pundits at the time it was released, but today it’s lauded for being one of the most “pivotal” films of the 90s. Now, fans can relive all the excitement of the beloved favorite – and its divisive sequel – as both are set to stream for free next month.
Released on May 7, 1999, The Mummy features Frasier as adventurer and treasure hunter Rick O’Connell. At the time, the star was mostly known for his comedy films like Encino Man, Son in Law, and Airheads, but he was also starting to gain recognition for more dramatic roles like those in School Ties, With Honors, and Gods and Monsters. The Mummy flipped the script, though, and helped people see him as an action star, propelling Frasier into the spotlight.
Set in 1926, The Mummy also stars Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, and Arnold Vosloo. Earning just a 62% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear that not everyone was enamored with Frasier’s efforts, but audiences spoke with their wallets, catapulting the movie to a box office take of $418 million. Its synopsis reads as follows:
“The Mummy is a rousing, suspenseful and horrifying epic about an expedition of treasure-seeking explorers in the Sahara Desert in 1926. Stumbling upon an ancient tomb, the hunters unwittingly set loose a 3,000-year-old legacy of terror, which is embodied in the vengeful reincarnation of an Egyptian priest who had been sentenced to an eternity as one of the living dead.”
‘The Mummy Returns’ Was a Divisive Sequel
Dwayne Johnson in The Mummy Returns
Universal
Based on the success of The Mummy, Universal quickly greenlit a sequel, bringing back writer/director Stephen Sommers and the core cast of the original – Fraser, Weisz, Hannah, and Vosloo. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was also brought on board to star as The Scorpion King in his first feature film role, which only served to heighten anticipation for The Mummy Returns, as he was, even then, one of the most recognizable faces in America thanks to the popularity of the WWE.
Released on May 4, 2001, the sequel was on par with the first movie in terms of its box office gross, as it managed to take in $435 million against a slightly larger budget than that of The Mummy. However, while the 1999 film sits with a 62% rating from critics and a 75% from fans on Rotten Tomatoes, The Mummy Returns scored much lower, earning just 46% from critics and 63% from viewers. James Sanford wrote in his review that “the film rarely generates much in the way of real excitement,” while Mark Dujsik added:
“The problem with The Mummy Returns is that it tries to qualify the need for a sequel with an extraordinarily unnecessary amount of plot.”
Indeed, The Mummy Returns definitely felt more jam-packed with villains and subplots than the original, but even with all that noise, it still remains a favorite of many today if for nothing more than its nostalgia, charm, and impressive action sequences. You can check out both movies for free when they land on Tubi beginning Oct. 1, 2025.
Release Date
May 7, 1999
Runtime
125 minutes