The Mummy (1999)

Name: The Mummy (1999)
Item: The Mummy (1999)
Rating: 4
Author: Adam Perry

Movie review by

Adam Perry, Common Sense Media

Parents recommendPopular with kids

Common Sense says

age 12+

(i)

Above-average action-adventure with lots of violence.

PG-13
1999
124 minutes

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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 23 reviews

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 58 reviews

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Official trailer

The Mummy (1999)

The Mummy Movie: Jonathan, Rick, and Evelyn uncover the sarcophagus

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The Mummy Movie: Rick shoots at a monster

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

Beyond the drinking, there is not much offensive behavior. Americans (shown mostly as cowboys) are portrayed as less clever, noble, or powerful than the rest. People of color are treated with respect.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Evie especially is a strong role model. She demonstrates her intelligence and courage. But some of the main characters betray others or leave each other behind.

Violence

Beyond the intense gunfire, swordplay, and fist-fighting, there are scenes, such as a man's insides being eaten alive by a killer beetle, that can be startling to both children and adults.

Sex

Kissing, slightly revealing outfits. Two characters have an affair, and the woman's bare bottom is visible.

Language

Swearing included "Sons of bitches," "bastard."

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Many characters drink shots of whiskey. A man stumbles drunk throughout the film and another vocally lusts after the whiskey.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that The Mummy is an extremely violent 1999 movie. Men are killed by gunfire, sword wounds, fatal acid, insect bites, and numerous magical plagues. There is virtually no blood or gore and much of the violence is directed toward the "undead," whose bones shatter when struck with swords or fists. In a series of scenes, many characters (including the lead) drink shots of bourbon whiskey. Two characters have an affair and the woman's bare bottom is visible. A man stumbles drunk throughout the film and another vocally lusts after the whiskey. Swearing includes "bitch" and "bastard."

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User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byRebekah8122 February 16, 2016

age 15+

They Missed the Language

I really enjoyed this movie from beginning to end and didn't find it very frightening; there is no gore to speak of and most of the scary sequences are mor... Continue reading

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Adult Written byTheNinthReviewer May 5, 2020

age 13+

Not Your Average "Adventure" Movie

Though The Mummy has many classic adventure movie elements (as well as an Indiana Jones-styled main character), it does deliver quite a bit more intense content... Continue reading

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Teen, 14 years old Written byellamay604 May 31, 2019

age 6+

6/7+ REALLY GOOD

I first watched this movie when I was around 6 and I LOVED it I found it really good and I won’t even deny the fact that I was a bit of a scaredy-cat as a child... Continue reading

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Teen, 15 years old Written byA.Ham February 1, 2019

age 13+

Actually Fantastic Film

I hate mummies, to put it simply. I've hated them since I was little. I'm less afraid now, of course. So you can say that I was dreading watching this... Continue reading

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What's the story?

In THE MUMMY, American explorer Rick O'Connell (Brendan Frasier) leads a Cairo librarian Evelyn Camahan (Rachel Weisz) and her brother Jonathan to the lost city of Hamunaptra where they discover treasure that accidentally awakens a three thousand-year-old cursed mummy. The undead creature -- once the high priest Imhotep -- is bent on resurrecting his mummified former lover, Anck-su-Namun, by sacrificing Evelyn and bringing forth Bible-size plagues and undead armies. This film is filled with rich content and is a worthy heir to the action-adventure/archaeology-meets-swashbuckling genre made famous by Harrison Ford in the Indiana Jones series.

Is it any good?

Action, comedy, and the captivating romance between O'Connell and Evie are at the heart of this movie. At times, the out-of-this-world special effects and battle-sequences have one longing for the old-school charm of Lawrence of Arabia or The Ten Commandments. Regardless, The Mummy is extremely exciting, and at times educational. The juxtaposition of intricate Egyptian history and spirituality, with contemporary Hollywood spirit, might inspire teens to learn more about ancient Egypt.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the way women and indigenous people are portrayed in The Mummy. How does Evie's strength as a scholarly, cultured, biracial librarian compare to other lead female roles in cinema today? How are people of different races depicted? Are they respectful of their cultures?
Families can also talk about the violence in The Mummy. How does the fact that much of it is supernatural affect its impact? How is it different watching the "undead" get hurt than human characters?