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The Mummy Returns

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The Mummy Returns
Theatrical release poster
Directed byStephen Sommers
Written byStephen Sommers
Based on
Characters
by
Produced bySean Daniel
James Jacks
Starring
CinematographyAdrian Biddle
Edited byBob Ducsay
Kelly Matsumoto
Music byAlan Silvestri
Production
companies
Universal Pictures
Alphaville Films
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • May 4, 2001 (2001-05-04)
Running time
129 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$98 million[1]
Box office$435 million[1]

The Mummy Returns is a 2001 American fantasy action-adventure film[2] written and directed by Stephen Sommers. It is the sequel to the 1999 film The Mummy, and the second film in The Mummy film series starring Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell.

Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Oded Fehr, and Patricia Velásquez reprise their roles from the previous film, starring alongside Freddie Boath, Alun Armstrong, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Dwayne Johnson in his film acting debut. Most of the crew from the first film also return, though composer Jerry Goldsmith was replaced by Alan Silvestri.[3][4]

The film was released on May 4, 2001 by Universal Pictures. Like its predecessor, The Mummy Returns was a commercial success, grossing $435 million worldwide, becoming the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2001 and the highest-grossing film of the film series. The film received mixed reviews from critics. It was followed by a 2002 prequel film The Scorpion King, a spin-off that is set 5,000 years prior and whose eponymous character, played by Johnson was introduced in this film. A sequel starring Fraser and Hannah, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, was released in 2008.

Plot

[edit]

In 3067 B.C., a warrior known as the Scorpion King leads an army to conquer the world. However, they are eventually defeated and he is exiled to the desert of Ahm Shere. Dying, the King vows to give Anubis his soul in return for the power to defeat his enemies. He accepts, conjuring an oasis and golden pyramid, and giving the King an army of jackal-like warriors to conquer Egypt. However, once his task is finished, Anubis claims his soul, and the army is returned to the Underworld.

In 1933 A.D., nine years after the defeat of Imhotep,[a] Rick O'Connell and his wife, Evelyn, explore ancient ruins with their son, Alex, finding the Bracelet of Anubis. In London, Alex plays with the bracelet, which locks onto his wrist, showing him visions that lead to Ahm Shere. Evelyn is attacked and captured by a cult who resurrect Imhotep with the Book of the Dead; they wish to use his power to defeat the King, which would give them command of Anubis's army.

The cult, led by museum curator Baltus Hafez, includes enforcer Lock-Nah and Meela Nais, the physical reincarnation of Imhotep's love Anck-su-namun. Rick and Alex set out to rescue Evelyn with the help of her brother Jonathan, who had gotten his hands on a golden scepter, and the Medjai Ardeth Bay, who has returned to help them.

Rick frees Evelyn before she is sacrificed and they fight against Imhotep. Meanwhile, Alex is kidnapped and forced to lead the cult with the bracelet. The O'Connells pursue them with Rick's associate Izzy. En route, Alex secretly leaves clues for his parents, who follow in Izzy's dirigible.

Imhotep uses the Book of the Dead to restore Anck-su-namun's soul into Meela's body. By doing so, he unwittingly allows Evelyn to unlock the memories of her previous life as Princess Nefertiri, the bracelet's keeper and Pharaoh Seti I's daughter.

At the edge of the Oasis, Imhotep realizes that they are being pursued by Rick and uses his powers to attack the dirigible, causing it to crash into the oasis's jungle; Izzy chooses to stay behind to repair the dirigible. The O'Connells, Ardeth, Alex, and the cult are eventually attacked by pygmy mummies. Rick retrieves Alex while Ardeth kills Lock-Nah.

They escape from the pygmies, who kill all of the cult members except for Hafez, Imhotep, and Anck-su-namun. Rick and Alex race to the pyramid before the sun light reaches it, saving Alex's life and allowing the bracelet to release from his hand. Anck-su-namun, Imhotep, and Hafez then arrive and kill Evelyn before entering the pyramid.

Inside the pyramid, Imhotep loses his powers and is forced to face the King as a mortal. Hafez uses the bracelet to conjure Anubis's army, which appears in the desert outside of the Oasis. Rick finds Imhotep summoning the King and attacks him. The King, now an enormous scorpion monster, interrupts the fight. Imhotep tricks him into attacking Rick. Outside, Ardeth and the Medjai battle Anubis's resurrected army. While Rick and the King fight, Hafez is caught in the melee and dies.

Meanwhile, Jonathan and Alex steal the Book of the Dead from Anck-su-namun and use it to resurrect Evelyn. Rick discovers hieroglyphs explaining that Jonathan's scepter is the mystic Spear of Osiris, the only weapon capable of killing the King. Meanwhile, Evie fights with Anck-su-namun. Aided by Jonathan, Rick gets the spear and uses it to slay the King, sending him and the army of Anubis back into the Underworld.

As the oasis begins to implode and the pyramid crumbles, Rick and Imhotep cling to the ledge of a pit that leads to the underworld. Rick implores Evelyn to escape, but she risks her life to pull him to safety. Seeing this, Imhotep pleads for Anck-su-namun to do the same, but she abandons him. Heartbroken, Imhotep looks at Rick and Evie before letting go and plummeting into the underworld. While fleeing, Anck-su-namun inadvertently falls into a pit of scorpions and dies.

Izzy then arrives with the repaired dirigible and rescues the O'Connells just before the oasis and the pyramid are destroyed—though not before Jonathan swipes a diamond. They depart into the sunset, with Ardeth saluting them before riding off.

Cast

[edit]
Main article: List of The Mummy (film series) characters

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

Following the success of The Mummy (1999), Universal Pictures quickly moved forward with plans for a sequel. Writer-director Stephen Sommers was approached by Universal after the film's opening weekend, and within a day, he began developing ideas for The Mummy Returns.[5] Sommers had already been contemplating a sequel during the production of the original film, aiming to expand the story with a larger scale, enhanced special effects, and fresh adventures for the familiar characters. He wanted to create a new adventure without repeating the same formula, aiming to "outdo" his previous work.[5]

Sommers chose to set The Mummy Returns in 1933, nine years after the events of the first film. This allowed the characters to evolve, with Rick and Evelyn now married and living comfortably in London.[5] They have a son, Alex, who embodies the best traits of both parents. The story intertwines multiple timelines, exploring the ancient past of the Scorpion King, Imhotep, and the O'Connells' present-day life. Sommers also sought to delve deeper into the fascination with ancient Egypt that was central to the original film.[5]

Casting

[edit]

Sommers was eager to reunite the original cast, including Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah, for the sequel. The returning actors were enthusiastic about the script, which combined elements of horror, visual effects, comedy, and romance.[5] Weisz and Patricia Velasquez trained extensively in ancient Japanese martial arts to portray more physically demanding roles. New to the cast was Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who played the Scorpion King. Although Johnson was new to acting, Sommers felt his natural charisma was well-suited for the role of a fearsome warrior who made a pact with the god Anubis. Johnson embraced the physical demands of the role, which involved extensive makeup and hours of preparation.[5]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography began in the deserts of Morocco, with additional second-unit work filmed in Jordan, including locations like the gorges at Petra. In Morocco, filming took place in Erfoud, which had also been used for The Mummy, and Ouarzazate.[5] The production then moved to Shepperton Studios in England, where sets for ancient pyramids and temples were constructed. Filming also took place in various locations around London, including the British Museum and Tower Bridge. Despite challenges posed by the weather, the crew adapted quickly.[6]

Visual Effects

[edit]

The visual effects team, led by John Berton at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), aimed to surpass the effects of the first film. Advances in computer-generated imagery (CGI) allowed for more intricate and realistic creatures, such as Imhotep. The filmmakers focused on creating a seamless integration between the live-action sequences and CGI, utilizing detailed camera tracking and motion-capture technology.[5]

Berton highlighted the challenge of animating creatures with organic realism and developing characters like Imhotep, whose interactions with other characters were more detailed than in the original film. Arnold Vosloo, who reprised his role as Imhotep, faced the challenge of acting alongside these digital elements, often reacting to creatures and environments that were only added in post-production.[5]

Despite advancements in CGI, the Scorpion King's appearance was widely criticized for its awkward facial features and uncanny valley effect.[7][8] The visual effects team faced challenges due to limited reference material of Dwayne Johnson, as his WWE commitments prevented detailed facial scans.[9] As a result, the digital representation of Johnson lacked accuracy, standing out as one of the film's most criticized visual effects, despite improvements in other characters like Imhotep.[7][10]

Music

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The Mummy Returns: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by
Alan Silvestri
ReleasedMay 1, 2001
Length1:13:26
LabelDecca Records
The Mummy chronology
The Mummy
(1999) 		The Mummy Returns: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(2001) 		Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
(2008)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Empire
Filmtracks
Tracksounds

The Mummy Returns: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released on May 1, 2001 by Decca Records.[4]

The score was composed and conducted Alan Silvestri,[11] who did not reuse any of Goldsmith's themes from the first film.[3] It was performed by the Sinfonia of London and orchestrated by William Ross.[4]

The soundtrack contains Silvestri's as well as a version of the song "Forever May Not Be Long Enough" by the rock band Live, which slightly differs from the song's album version.

A 2-CD expansion was released by Intrada Records in 2018.[12]

Reception

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Box office

[edit]

The Mummy Returns earned $23.4 million on its first day of release, then made $26.8 million the day after. This made it the highest Friday and Saturday grosses, surpassing both Toy Story 2 and The Lost World: Jurassic Park respectively.[13] Later that year, those records were simultaneously given to Planet of the Apes and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.[14][15] During its opening weekend, the film made $68.1 million, making it the second-highest opening weekend of all time, only behind The Lost World: Jurassic Park.[16] Moreover, it surpassed Hannibal to have the highest opening weekend for a 2001 film, joining Monsters, Inc., Rush Hour 2 and Planet of the Apes to become one of the only four films of that year to make $60 million in their first three days of release.[17] The film also became one of four consecutive Universal films of the year to cross the $40 million in an opening weekend, with the others being American Pie 2, The Fast and the Furious and Jurassic Park III.[18] Upon opening, the film reached the top of the box office, beating out Driven.[19] For its second weekend, it collected a total of $33.7 million, outgrossing A Knight's Tale in the process.[20] The Mummy Returns would remain in the number one spot at the box office for a total of two weeks until Shrek took it.[21]

The film grossed $202 million in the United States and Canada box offices and $233 million internationally, grossing over $435 million worldwide, making it the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2001.[1]

Critical response

[edit]

The Mummy Returns received mixed reviews from critics. It currently holds a 46% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 141 reviews, with an average rating of 5.3/10. The site's consensus states: "In The Mummy Returns, the special effects are impressive, but the characters seem secondary to the computer-generated imagery."[22] Metacritic reported an average rating of 48 out of 100 based on 31 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[23] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.[24]

Roger Ebert, who awarded the first film three stars, gave the second film only two, saying that "The mistake of The Mummy Returns is to abandon the characters, and to use the plot only as a clothesline for special effects and action sequences."[25] James Berardinelli of ReelViews gave the film two and a half stars (out of four), calling it "hollow, lightweight entertainment—not unpleasant, but far from the summer's definitive action/adventure flick.[26]

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times gave the film a positive review, praising its "constant plot turns, cheeky sensibility and omnipresent action sequences."[27] Todd McCarthy of Variety praised "the nonstop action of the final hour", saying that it "bursts with visual goodies."[28] Rene Rodriguez of The Miami Herald said, "Twelve-year-olds weaned on Nintendo may not mind, but anyone who remembers the tactile thrill of an alarmingly real boulder rolling down on Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark will be left cold."[29]

Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal gave the film a negative review, saying that it "has all of the clank but none of the swank of the previous version."[23] Charles Taylor of Salon.com was also not impressed, calling The Mummy Returns "everything the first Mummy was fun for not being."[30]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Subject Nominee Result Ref.
Saturn Awards Best Fantasy Film Nominated [31]
Best Makeup Aileen Seaton, Nick Dudman and Jane Walker Nominated
Best Special Effects John Andrew Berton, Jr., Daniel Jeannette, Neil Corbould and Thomas Rosseter Nominated
Best Young Actor Freddie Boath Nominated
Young Artist Awards Nominated [32]
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actor Brendan Fraser Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Action Movie Actor Nominated
Choice Movie Villain The Rock Won
Choice Action Movie Nominated
Golden Trailer Awards Best Title Sequence Nominated
Golden Reel Awards Best Sound Editing - Effects & Foley Leslie Shatz, Malcolm Fife, Ann Scibelli, Jon Olive and Jonathan Klein Nominated
Empire Awards Best British Actress Rachel Weisz Nominated [33]
Stinkers Bad Movie Awards Worst Supporting Actor The Rock Won

Home media

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The Mummy Returns debuted on VHS and DVD on October 2, 2001.[34][35] It became the fastest-selling DVD ever in the United States, selling 2 million copies after its first week of release, while also surpassing Gladiator.[36] The film would briefly hold this record for two weeks until it was taken by Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace when it sold 2.2 million copies during its first week.[37] There are two separate versions of this DVD release either in widescreen or fullscreen formats.[38]

The film was subsequently released on the high-definition Blu-ray format in July 2008,[39] and on UHD Blu-ray in 2017.[40]

Video games

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Two video games based on the movie were released. The first was released on the Game Boy Color, developed by GameBrains, and was released within the film's theatrical release.[41] The other is for the PlayStation 2, developed by Blitz Games and was released in October 2001, to coincide with the film's home media release.[42][43] Both titles were published by Universal Interactive.[44]

Subsequent works

[edit]

Spin-off

[edit]
Main article: The Scorpion King

A spin-off/prequel film centering on Dwayne Johnson's character, the Scorpion King, was released on April 19, 2002. It focuses on the King's origins, as he rises to power before the events of The Mummy Returns' prologue. The film received mixed reviews but was only a moderate commercial success.[45][46] It spawned The Scorpion King film series, with direct-to-video sequels and with different actors playing the title role.

Sequel

[edit]
Main article: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

A sequel to The Mummy Returns was released on August 1, 2008. Brendan Fraser and John Hannah both reprised their roles, while Rachel Weisz was replaced by Maria Bello as Evelyn, and Luke Ford played the now-adult Alex O'Connell. The film received generally negative reviews,[47] and was the lowest-grossing film of the trilogy.[48]

Notes

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  1. ^ As depicted in The Mummy (1999).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "The Mummy Returns (2001)". The Numbers. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "The Mummy Returns". British Board of Film Classification.
  3. ^ a b "Filmtracks: The Mummy Returns (Alan Silvestri)". www.filmtracks.com. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Silvestri, Alan. "The Mummy Returns (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Discogs.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Mummy Returns: Production Notes". Cinema.com. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  6. ^ "Filming Locations for The Mummy Returns (2001), in Morocco, Jordan and the UK". The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Ward, Cassidy (September 28, 2023). "Understanding the Uncanny Valley with The Mummy Returns". Syfy. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Lund, Anthony (July 17, 2022). "The Mummy Returns VFX Supervisor Reveals Why The Scorpion King's CGI Was So Bad". MovieWeb. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Pierce-Bohen, Kayleena (June 4, 2023). "Why The Mummy's 1999 VFX Look So Much Better Than The Sequels'". ScreenRant. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  10. ^ Farley, Lloyd (November 4, 2023). "'The Mummy Returns' Real Nightmare Was the Scorpion King CGI". Collider. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  11. ^ Silvestri, The Film Music of Alan. "The Mummy Returns: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack :..." The Film Music of Alan Silvestri. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  12. ^ "THE MUMMY RETURNS (2CD)".
  13. ^ Susman, Gary (May 9, 2001). "Mummy Returns rakes in $70.1 million". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  14. ^ "'Planet of the Apes' easily wins US box office". United Press International. July 29, 2001. Archived from the original on February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  15. ^ Linder, Brian (November 20, 2001). "Weekend Box Office: Potter Smashes Records". IGN. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  16. ^ "The Mummy Returns is a monster; opens on $70.1m".
  17. ^ "'Monsters' scares up win at box office". United Press International. November 4, 2001. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  18. ^ "Box Office: Audiences Eat Up American Pie 2". ABC News.
  19. ^ "Box Office: Mummy Scares Up Record Haul". ABC News.
  20. ^ "'Mummy' still rules box office". The Berkshire Eagle. May 16, 2001. p. 32. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  21. ^ "Shrek shakes up US box office". BBC. May 21, 2001. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  22. ^ "The Mummy Returns". Rotten Tomatoes.
  23. ^ a b "The Mummy Returns". Metacritic.
  24. ^ "CinemaScore". cinemascore.com.
  25. ^ Roger Ebert. "Review". Chicago Sun-Times.
  26. ^ James Berardinelli. "Review". ReelViews.
  27. ^ Kenneth Turan. "Review". Los Angeles Times.
  28. ^ Todd McCarthy (May 3, 2001). "Review". Variety.
  29. ^ Rodriguez, Rene (May 4, 2001). "'The Mummy' unravels in sequel". The Miami Herald. p. 68. Archived from the original on November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  30. ^ Charles Taylor (May 4, 2001). "Review". Salon.com.
  31. ^ "Nominees for 28th Annual Saturn Awards". United Press International. March 14, 2002. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  32. ^ "Twenty-Third Annual Young Artist Awards 2002". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016.
  33. ^ Willow Green (January 25, 2002). "Empire Awards: Nominations Announced". Empire. Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  34. ^ "Universal Studios Home Video Launches the VHS/DVD Release Of 'The Mummy Returns' Amidst Ancient Sand Dunes at Santa Monica Beach". PR Newswire. Cision. October 3, 2001. Archived from the original on November 2, 2001. Retrieved June 14, 2019 – via Yahoo.com.
  35. ^ Rivero, Enrique (June 18, 2001). "Universal's Mighty 'Mummy Returns' Unwraps at Retail Oct. 2". hive4media.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2001. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  36. ^ Groves, Don; Clay, Jennifer (October 9, 2001). "Big day for DVD debuts". Variety. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  37. ^ "'Menace' sales set DVD record". October 29, 2001.
  38. ^ Nunziata, Nick (September 19, 2001). "Mummy Returns, The". IGN. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  39. ^ "The Mummy Returns Blu-ray Release Date July 22, 2008" – via www.blu-ray.com.
  40. ^ "The Mummy Returns". September 12, 2017 – via Amazon.
  41. ^ "The Mummy Returns". April 20, 2001.
  42. ^ "Universal Interactive - News".
  43. ^ "The Mummy Returns". September 19, 2001.
  44. ^ "Off the Record". August 5, 2000.
  45. ^ "The Scorpion King". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  46. ^ "The Scorpion King". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on December 16, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  47. ^ "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed November 22, 2021.
  48. ^ "Mummy Franchise Box Office History – The Numbers". www.the-numbers.com.
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