The Mummy (1999 film)
A 1999 action-adventure remake of the 1932 film.
The Mummy is a 1999 American action-adventure film written and directed by Stephen Sommers. It stars Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, and Arnold Vosloo. A loose remake of the 1932 film of the same name, the film follows adventurer Rick O'Connell, librarian Evelyn Carnahan, and her brother Jonathan as they travel to Hamunaptra, the City of the Dead, and accidentally awaken Imhotep, a cursed high priest with supernatural powers. The film was a commercial success, grossing $422.5 million worldwide against an $80 million budget, and launched a franchise including sequels, an animated series, and spin-offs.
- Release date
- May 7, 1999
- Director
- Stephen Sommers
- Production budget
- $80 million
- Worldwide gross
- $422.5 million
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Genre
- Action-adventure
Lore & Background
Development of The Mummy began in the late 1980s, with producers James Jacks and Sean Daniel aiming to update the 1932 horror film. Universal wanted a low-budget horror franchise, and multiple directors and screenwriters were attached over the years, including George A. Romero, Clive Barker, and Joe Dante. Early treatments ranged from a Terminator-like mummy to a dark, sexual vision, but none were produced. Stephen Sommers eventually pitched a more adventurous and romantic take, which was accepted. Filming took place in Morocco and the United Kingdom, with the crew enduring dehydration, sandstorms, and snakes in the Sahara Desert. Industrial Light & Magic created visual effects blending live-action and CGI for Imhotep, and Jerry Goldsmith composed the orchestral score.
Reader's Guide
The Mummy received mixed critical reviews but became the sixth-highest-grossing film of 1999. Its success started a new franchise, with direct sequels The Mummy Returns (2001) and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), as well as an animated series (2001–2003) and the prequel The Scorpion King (2002), which spawned its own sequels. In 2017, Universal attempted to launch a new Universal Monsters franchise with another film titled The Mummy. The 1999 film is noted for its blend of horror, adventure, and romance, and for its use of practical effects and CGI. Its legacy includes influencing later adventure films and solidifying Brendan Fraser as an action star.
Did You Know?
- The film was a loose remake of the 1932 film of the same name.
- Filming in the Sahara Desert involved dehydration, sandstorms, and snakes.
- Industrial Light & Magic provided visual effects for Imhotep.
- The film grossed $422.5 million worldwide against an $80 million budget.
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