The Mummy (released in theaters on June 9, 2017) charges onto the screen as a high-octane, dark fantasy adventure that attempts to reinvent classic monster lore for modern audiences. Directed by Alex Kurtzman, the story follows Nick Morton (Tom Cruise), an adventurous soldier of fortune who loots ancient antiquities alongside his cynical sidekick, Chris Vail (Jake Johnson), in war-torn Iraq.
After accidentally discovering an underground prison, Nick unwittingly frees Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella), an ancient Egyptian princess buried alive millenniums ago for murdering her family in a dark pact with the god of death.
Joined by archaeologist Jenny Halsey (Annabelle Wallis), Nick attempts to transport Ahmanet’s sarcophagus to London, only for her supernatural curse to crash their military transport plane.
Miraculously surviving the crash without a scratch, Nick realizes he has been cursed by Ahmanet to serve as the human vessel for Set, the Egyptian god of death.
As Ahmanet unleashes an army of undead mummies and wreaks havoc across London to complete her ritual, Nick is abducted by Prodigium, a secret organization dedicated to hunting monsters.
Headed by the mysterious Dr. Henry Jekyll (Russell Crowe) and supervised by military commander Colonel Greenway (Courtney B. Vance), Prodigium seeks to destroy Ahmanet while controlling Nick’s dark destiny.
Forced to navigate both Dr. Jekyll’s terrifying alter ego and Ahmanet’s hypnotic pull, Nick engages in a desperate, supernatural battle to protect Jenny, ultimately sacrificing his own humanity by embracing the dark powers of Set to defeat the ancient princess once and for all.
Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe in The Mummy (Photo/Universal Pictures)
Reception for The Mummy
The Mummy grossed $31.7 million on its opening weekend, finishing second at the box office behind Wonder Woman ($58.5 million).
The film would gross $80.2 million domestically, but $329 million internationally for a worldwide total of $409.2 million worldwide.
Legacy
The Mummy‘s legacy remains a fascinating milestone in blockbuster cinema as the ambitious, highly publicized launchpad for Universal Pictures’ planned “Dark Universe.” While the grand cinematic universe strategy was quickly abandoned following mixed critical reception, the picture gained a distinct cult standing among action-adventure fans who appreciate its unique blend of military action, practical stunt set-pieces, and body horror motifs.
Boutella’s striking, hypnotic portrayal of Ahmanet won widespread acclaim, while Cruise’s relentless physical commitment – highlighted by a staggering zero-gravity plane crash sequence – remains a standout technical achievement.
Modern creature-feature fans revisit The Mummy as an entertaining, fast-paced hybrid of classic horror tropes and globe-trotting action.
