By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
The “Brenassaince” is upon us, with Brendan Fraser’s biggest hit, The Mummy, somehow reaching the top 10 on HBO Max. FlixPatrol has the exact numbers, which show the classic action-adventure film as the fifth most-watched movie on the Warner Bros. streaming platform. Also starring Rachel Weisz and Arnold Vosloo, the 1999 blockbuster has stood the test of time.
After making a name for himself in comedies, including Encino Man and Airheads, Brendan Fraser was given the chance to be the dashing leading man in a big-budget action film. The Mummy is a reboot of the classic Universal monster movie from 1932, with Fraser as Rick O’Connell, a legionnaire who stumbles across Hamunaptra, the Egyptian City of the Dead. Weisz plays librarian Evelyn Carnahan, the reincarnation of Imhotep’s forbidden love, the reason he was cursed to live forever as an undead mummy.
Through the 1980s, Universal Pictures had wanted to remake The Mummy, which came closest with zombie maestro George Romero at the helm. At one point, Clive Barker was also attached to the project, but by 1996, the remake was scrapped. With Stephen Sommers in the director’s chair, a pulp remake moved forward, originally offering Tom Cruise the lead instead of Brendan Fraser, which is ironic now, given the failure of Tom Cruise’s own The Mummy film in 2017.
Fresh off the box-office success of George of the Jungle, Brendan Fraser was cast because he understood that the character of Rick did not take himself too seriously, leaning into the pulp-action feel of The Mummy. Audiences responded to Fraser’s take on the character, propelling The Mummy to the best non-holiday May opening and the ninth-best opening of all time. A total worldwide box office of over $400 million made it a simple matter for Universal Pictures to greenlight a sequel.
The Mummy was also a starting point for another big career. Dwayne Johnson had his first film role in The Mummy Returns as the villainous Scorpion King, making such an impact that he went on to star in a prequel, which then launched its very own action franchise.
Even after two more movies, with diminishing returns, one of Brendan Fraser’s career high-water marks remains The Mummy. No matter what role he plays, Brendan Fraser’s shadow will loom over the film, reflecting the public’s love for his swashbuckling portrayal of Rick.
