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The Mummy (1999)
Common Sense says
- PG-13
- 1999
- 124 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
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
So-so action flick -watch out for the racism
The Mummy /nudity
Disturbing
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?
Movie details
- In theaters: May 7, 1999
- On DVD or streaming: December 19, 1999
- Cast: Brendan Fraser, Oded Fehr, Rachel Weisz
- Director: Stephen Sommers
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Run time: 124 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: pervasive adventure violence and some partial nudity
For kids who love action and adventure
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.