The beloved 1999 action-adventureThe Mummyhas uncovered a tidy sum at the box office following its25th anniversary re-release.The Mummy, which stars Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and Arnold Vosloo as the titular Universal monster, was released in theaters once again over the weekend in celebration of its original release more than two decades ago.
The Mummywas re-released in more than 1,200 theaters across North America and has now grossed just over $1 million at the box office. When compared to other recent releases of classic movies,The Mummydidn’t quite reach the heights ofAlien’s$1.5 million orShrek 2’s$1.4 million, but nonetheless shows that audiences cannot get enough of Fraser and his 90s action-adventure throwback.
Released back in 1999, the firstThe Mummystars Brendan Fraser as adventurer Rick O’Connell alongside Rachel Weisz as Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan. The seemingly mismatched pair must work together when a cursed high priest with supernatural powers, Imhotep, is accidentally awakened and proceeds to carry out his vendetta against mankind.
Upon release,The Mummygarnered $416.4 million at the worldwide box office, with its success spawning a sequel in 2001’sThe Mummy Returnsin 2001. This was then followed by a threequel,The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperorin 2008, which starred Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh alongside Fraser.
The Mummy Franchise Was Rebooted by Tom Cruise in 2017
The Mummyfranchise has since been rebooted by Tom Cruise and director Alex Kurtzman as part of the ill-fated Dark Universe. Sadly, the reboot never reached the heights of the 1999 effort, with Fraser himself having since ponderedwhat went wrong with the project.
“It is hard to make that movie. The ingredient that we had going for our Mummy, which I didn’t see in that film, was fun. That was what was lacking in that incarnation. It was too much of a straight-ahead horror movie. The Mummy should be a thrill ride, but not terrifying and scary. I know how difficult it is to pull it off. I tried to do it three times.”
The Mummy at 25: How the Movie Almost Didn’t Get Made
From development hell to hellish shooting conditions to its lead star almost dying, 1999’s The Mummy came very close to never happening.
Brendan Fraser has since undergone a major career resurgence in recent years, with the actorwinning the Academy Award for Best Actorfor his lead performance in director Darren Aronofsky’sThe Whale. The actor also featured as part of the stellar cast in Martin Scorsese’sKillers of the Flower Moon, and will next star alongside Josh Brolin, Peter Dinklage, and Taylour Paige in Palm Springs director Max Barbakow’s upcoming comedy,Brothers.
But could Fraser ever be tempted to reprise the role of Rick O’Connell and once again do battle with a mummy? Well, askedabout the prospect ofThe Mummy 4back in February last year, Fraser certainly sounded open to the prospect.
“Sounds like fun. I’m always looking for a job. If anyone’s got the right conceit. I think I’ve never been as famous, and never been as unsalaried at the moment as I am right now. So spread the word.”
