Anastasia Elfman lists her Top 10 Mummy movies of all time, and unwraps a new interview with Bruce Campbell.
Great news, Horror Fam—we can finally stop reading passages from The Book of the Dead, because studio execs are listening and resurrecting more mummy movies! With Blumhouse’s eerie new trailer for Lee Cronin’s upcoming The Mummy and Universal confirming Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz reprising their Rick & Evelyn characters, my horror heart is skipping a beat.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a quintessential monster flick like John Landis’s An American Werewolf in Londonas much as the next gal, but there’s just something about strapping on some knee-high leather boots and excavating a gooey mummy all the while trying to avoid being eternally cursed.
So get ready for a whirlwind journey 3,000 years in the making as I share my Top 10 Favorite Mummy movies! Plus, read on for an exclusive interview with Bruce Campbell.
ReaderBeware! Spoilers and scarabs ahead!
10. The Awakening (1980)
Courtesy of Orion Pictures
I enjoy hidden gems along with great retro poster art, so when I saw that Charlton Heston—yes, of Planet of the Apes“Take your stinking paws off me, you damn, dirty ape!” fame—playing lead in this adaptation of Bram Stoker’s The Jewel of Seven Stars, I had to give it a go.
The film follows archeologist Heston, who discovers a cursed Egyptian queen’s tomb when her spirit begins possessing his daughter. Campy horror chaos ensues. This flick has gotten a bad wrap—pun intended— but truth be told, I had a fun time re-watching, so much so that I’ll watch it again with friends.
Full of atmospheric scares, unique sound design, over-the-top killer moments, and a creepy ending. A must-watch for us fans who enjoy classic ’70s and ’80s slow-burn horror.
9. The Mummy and the Curse of the Jackals (1969)
Courtesy of Severin Films
I love a good subgenre, and this film screams pulpy horror as it brings the mummy to Las Vegas. Part of its charm is the unintentional comedy that flows from guerrilla-style shooting without proper permits, using public bystanders as background, and capturing their genuine reactions. Bright makeup and set design, plus, of course, the neon-lit glow of the Vegas Strip, all make this wacky film memorable.
8. The Monster Squad (1987)
Courtesy of Tri-Star Pictures
Dracula is on the hunt for a cursed amulet that will grant him and his group of off-brand Universal Monsters ultimate power—so, of course, the Mummy would make a most excellent undead minion. While The Monster Squad might not be the typical pick for a mummy film, it still makes my list. So many great mummy moments, like when the Mummy hilariously escapes the museum and his jump-scare in Eugene’s closet, plus the exceptional monster makeup across the board. This cult classic is worth a spin!
7. The Mummy’s Ghost (1944)
Courtesy of Universal Pictures Company
Part of Universal’s Kharis series, where Lon Chaney Jr. stars as the Mummy and travels to America in search of his reincarnated girlfriend, Princess Anank, now “living” in the Midwest. This lighthearted action-adventure, which helped revive Universal’s mummy franchise, does take a few bleak and tragic twists, but it’s a departure from its predecessors with a non-traditional ending.
6. The Mummy (1959)
Quintessential Hammer horror with a dreamy Technicolor gothic tone! Christopher Lee stars as the Mummy with Peter Cushing as the archaeologist. The film follows Cushing, who unearths Princess Ananka. This discovery awakens Lee, who is on the warpath until he meets Cushing’s wife and becomes completely obsessed with her resemblance to Ananka. Of course!
5. Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Created by horror master George A. Romero, this anthology includes tales from Stephen King, Michael McDowell, and Romero. Each vignette is brimming with riveting horror, including the delicious wrap-around with witchy woman Debbie Harry.
Steve Buscemi stars in the segment ‘Lot 249’ as a poor, nerdy college student accused of stealing by a group of rich yuppies. Naturally resentful, Buscemi brings his dusty new friend back to life to settle the score—classic mummy revenge!
If you enjoy Creepshow and Tales from the Crypt as much as I do, you’ll totally dig this film!
4. The Mummy Returns (2001)
Courtesy of Universal Pictures
I adore 1999’s The Mummy and 2001’s The Mummy Returns equally, and both could have tied for number 3, but I’m giving this sequel number 4 for the sake of the list.
This film was a perfect example of a sequel knowing its audience and giving us exactly what we want, especially the twist flashbacks, the great fight sequences, intriguing subplots, and killer betrayal scenes, because who doesn’t want more of kick-ass Anck-Su-Namun played by the lovely Patricia Velasquez?
The movie features insane practical makeup and animatronics, out-of-this-world CGI by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and a magnificent score by legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith. And, of course, Kevin J. O’Connor’s Benni—my favorite spineless villain ever!
My hopes are high for The Mummy’s 2028 fourth installment with news that our original Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) will return. Now, to directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, you have one job: somehow bring our villain Benni back!
2. The Mummy (1932)
Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Disney Animation has its “Nine Old Men,” but we horror fans have our classic Universal Monsters. I would be remiss if I didn’t include the original mummy that started it all, 1932’s The Mummy, starring the great Boris Karloff.
Truth be told, it was a bit of a stretch to see crusty-faced Imhotep trying to pass off as a normal human in full makeup—but hey, it still went down fine with the popcorn.
While the film doesn’t lean too heavily on horror frights, banking more on atmospheric tension, I do find myself returning to this slow-burn classic for Karloff’s iconic mummy.
1. Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)
Now hold that sarcophagus lid, folks, as some may not yet have seen this under-the-radar gem. But Bruce Campbell’s beyond brilliant Elvis Presley, aged and in a walker, no less, dueling with the revivified mummy in a Texas nursing home? Drop dead delicious!
We reached out to Bruce, and he shared with Dread:
“I don’t know any actor who would not want to play Elvis Presley, so that was a fun challenge. However, no one has played him as a 68-year-old man in an East Texas rest home with cancer on his penis. Bubba was the most unique scripts I ever read. Between that and knowing Don Coscarelli—a genre contemporary of mine—was going to direct it made me feel at home.”
Coscarelli replied:
“Our two heroes get around using a walker and a wheelchair (co-star Ossie Davis as an aged JFK). The key thing about mummies, they move slow. That’s why Bubba Ho-Tep is set in an elder care home. Their prey moves slow as well. Where’s the excitement in a mummy film if the prey can just run away??”
Sounds absurd, I grant you, but the level of dark horror comedy is right up there with Bruce Campbell’s classic, Evil Dead 2. IMHO, Bubba Ho-Tep is a unique masterpiece—for those looking for something different and truly original, this hilarious take on the Mummy is an absolute must-see and this horror girl’s Number One. Hail to the King, baby!
Make sure to follow Dread Central and me across social media to catch my “It’s A Wrap!” Top Mummy Movie companion video!
