Common Sense Media Review
Very violent sequel has lots of action and peril.
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The Mummy Returns
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Parents say the sequel offers a mix of adventure and humor but contains notable violence and intense imagery, although it is not as frightening as the original. While it can entertain families and inspire interest in ancient Egypt, it has mild language, some suggestive content, and moments of peril that may still be unsuitable for younger viewers.
- family-friendly
- mild language
- less scary
- humorous tone
- intense imagery
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 18 kid reviews
What's the Story?
In The Mummy Returns, Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz return as Rick and Evie O'Connell, now married and the parents of 8-year-old Alex (Freddie Boath). This time, the Mummy has to defeat the Scorpion King (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) to get control of his army and take over the world. In order to find and wake him, they need a special Scorpion-King-finding bracelet, which happens to be stuck on the wrist of Alex O'Connell. But don't worry about the plot. It really doesn't matter how or why mummies and bad guys are chasing them; all we need to know is that they are, and that Rick and Evie have to find a way to rescue Alex, send the mummies back where they came from, and save the world from being utterly destroyed. Fortunately, there's always just enough time for a kiss or a wisecrack -- sometimes both -- before entering into the fray.
Is It Any Good?
Grab some popcorn and settle in for some old-fashioned movie fun. The special effects of The Mummy Returns are dated but the fight scenes are well staged and very exciting. One of the movie's great strengths is the art direction. It brilliantly creates the mood, helped along by a period-sounding score.
It's a shame that The Rock is onscreen for such a short time. He makes a real impression in the prologue, but doesn't reappear until the end, when he's part-Rock, part-scorpion. Fortunately, there's an entire sequel titled The Scorpion King just about his character.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how views on archeological digs have changed since the era in which The Mummy Returns is set, and about current controversies over the ownership of antiquities. Families can also visit local museums to see some of their Egyptian treasures.
How was violence used in this movie? Did it seem relevant to the overall story, or forced in to provide more excitement?
How is this similar to and different from other action-adventure movies? What are some elements of this genre?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 4, 2001
- On DVD or streaming : October 2, 2001
- Cast : Brendan Fraser , Oded Fehr , Rachel Weisz
- Director : Stephen Sommers
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures
- Run time : 130 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : adventure action and violence
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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