The 90s were an incredible time for movies, with dozens of classics released that we still talk about today. Adventure films were no exception, and few captured the hearts of audiences worldwide quite like The Mummy in 1999.
The Mummy is directed by Stephen Sommers and stars Brendan Fraser as Rick O’Connell. It’s arguably one of Brendan Fraser’s greatest roles, and is quite different from his other 90s projects. The film also introduced us to Evelyn (Rachel Weisz), and the pair have incredible chemistry from the moment they meet.
An exceptional cast certainly makes a movie memorable, but The Mummy offers an exceptional blend of genres that’s not so easy to emulate. For starters, it’s a fast-paced adventure movie that remains intense despite its PG-13 rating. It offers supernatural foes and a classic but mysterious locale, and is just serious enough while remaining lighthearted.
The Mummy is also quite frightening at times, though it may be difficult to remember those moments if you’ve watched the film several times. Jonathan (John Hannah), Evelyn’s brother, jump scares his sister at the start of the movie, and Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) is an unsettling villain, particularly when we first meet him.
Needless to say, the movie is a tough act to follow, which is one of the big reasons it remains so beloved and influential. That said, some titles boast features that make The Mummy great and are still worth your time if another rewatch of The Mummy or The Mummy Returns simply won’t do.
10
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)
The first Pirates of the Caribbean movie wowed audiences in 2003 with its charismatic characters and an incredible story that combined fantasy with swashbuckling adventure.
The high seas are entirely different from Hamunaptra, but both movies are fast-paced with great heroes and villains. A romance story is at the heart of The Curse of the Black Pearl, with Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) turning to piracy to rescue Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). He turns to the wildly unpredictable Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) for help tracking a cursed pirate crew.
Pirates of the Caribbean is similar enough in tone to warrant a recommendation, and it is so beloved that it launched an entire franchise. Depp is phenomenal as Jack Sparrow, and the story spans multiple movies if you’re left wanting more.
9
Tremors (1990)
Tremors predates The Mummy by almost a decade, but earns a place on the list for its iconic characters, tone, and horror elements. The movie stars Kevin Bacon as Valentine and Fred Ward as Earl, a pair of handymen ready to leave their remote Nevada town to start a life in the City.
The pair is about to leave the valley before they make a horrific discovery. They meet Rhonda (Finn Carter), a seismology student, and learn that a terrifying worm monster is underground, feasting on the innocent people in the area.
The story of Tremors is quite different from The Mummy, but it leans into adventure-horror as few other movies do. Valentine, Earl, and Rhonda make a great heroic trio of ordinary people forced to face a deadly foe they cannot beat without thinking outside the box.
8
Big Trouble In Little China (1986)
Another classic adventure movie that predates The Mummy and is still worth a mention is Big Trouble in Little China. Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton, a trucker whose life is turned upside down when thugs kidnap his best friend’s partner.
Burton and Wang Chi (Dennis Dun) give chase, but quickly end up facing everything from bizarre, unkillable flying warriors to an undead sorcerer named David Lo Pan (James Hong). It’s as over-the-top as it sounds, and the movie features one of Russell’s most iconic characters.
Big Trouble in Little China is unique, as few films are quite like it. It’s tonally similar to The Mummy and is a treasure trove of one-liners. Jack Burton is an incredibly ‘cool’ hero, and the title is full of wild action scenes and humor.
7
Journey To The Center Of The Earth (2008)
Brendan Fraser starred in many comedy roles through the 90s and early 2000s. The Mummy was notably more serious than many of his previous titles, and he also starred in another more action-oriented role in 2008.
Many fans would agree that Journey to the Center of the Earth isn’t as good as The Mummy. Still, it’s a fun adventure movie starring Fraser as Trevor, a scientist. He’s looking for his missing brother, and clues lead him to a mysterious ecosystem under Earth’s surface.
Trevor quickly realizes the place he has discovered is quite different from the regular world, and while it’s a wondrous find, he must escape. Rick O’Connell is quite a different character from Trevor, but Fraser is charismatic as ever, and the movie offers a fantasy adventure suitable for all ages.
6
Romancing The Stone (1984)
Romancing the Stone is the oldest movie on this list, predating The Mummy by 15 years. Despite its age, both movies share many similarities, even though Romancing the Stone is set in the Colombian jungle.
The movie stars Kathleen Turner as Joan Wilder. She’s a romantic novelist with a treasure map in her possession, though she has no idea where it leads. A group desperate for the map kidnaps Joan’s sister as leverage, forcing her to travel to Colombia. Joan is out of her depth, but meets Jack Colton (Michael Douglas), an experienced adventurer, who begrudgingly agrees to help.
The Colombian Jungle setting is more akin to some scenes in The Mummy Returns than the 1999 movie, but there are many other similarities. Romancing the Stone holds up remarkably well with two exceptional leads, and Danny DeVito plays a great villain.
5
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)
The original Indiana Jones trilogy is among the most beloved adventure series of all time. Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones, a charismatic archaeologist who’s never afraid to get his hands dirty.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade features a globetrotting quest and a race against time to find the Holy Grail before the Nazis do. The story has a more relatable element as Indy’s father, Henry (Sean Connery), is also involved. The pair play off each other exceptionally well, with Indy an experienced adventurer and his father more academic.
All the 80s Indiana Jones movies deserve a place on this list as they are all timeless adventure masterpieces. Still, The Last Crusade has plenty of funny moments, a great cast, and an unforgettable conclusion that has become part of popular culture.
4
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is still a relatively recent release. It boasts a surprisingly funny fantasy-adventure set in the famous D&D universe, starring Chris Pine as Edgin, a bard.
Edgin is on a quest to retrieve a magical artifact and assembles a motley crew, not dissimilar to a D&D party, to help. Their journey is fraught with danger, and the group discovers that a powerful sorceress, Sofina (Daisy Head), is pulling the strings, staying one step ahead of our heroes.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is quite different from previous films set in the world of D&D. It stands out for its lighthearted tone, strong cast, and respectful nods to the source material while remaining accessible for newcomers.
3
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017)
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a bold reboot of the 1995 movie, taking the unforgettable story about the mysterious Jumanji board game and adding a more modern spin. Jumanji is a video game in the 2017 title that transports its players into a perilous jungle.
Each player in the game is represented by an avatar that looks entirely different from their real-life appearance. Dwayne Johnson plays Spencer alongside Karen Gillan as Martha, Kevin Hart as Fridge, and Jack Black as Bethany. The group is on a quest to escape the game, but the stakes are high as they realize Jumanji features well-known video game rules, such as limited lives.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is more Mummy-adjacent than the original film, thanks to its setting away from the city. The cast plays off each other incredibly well, and the movie delicately balances adventure and humor.
2
Van Helsing (2004)
The setting of Van Helsing is quite different from The Mummy, trading the sands of Egypt for a village in Transylvania terrorized by vampires. However, Stephen Sommers directed both titles, and they share many similarities.
Hugh Jackman is Van Helsing, a renowned monster hunter. The church sends him to Transylvania to deal with the most legendary vampire of all, Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh). He allies with Anna (Kate Beckinsale) as the pair take on fantasy foes to uncover Dracula’s deadly plot and his cruel experiments.
Van Helsing shares The Mummy‘s sense of humor and a similar fast pace. It also contains a few scary moments and intense action sequences without delving into full-blown horror.
1
Jungle Cruise (2021)
Dwayne Johnson returns for our final entry on the list, Jungle Cruise. While Romancing the Stone feels like a template for The Mummy in many ways, Brendan Fraser’s movie likely influenced Jungle Cruise, as the two have much in common.
Johnson stars as Frank, who captains a riverboat touring the Amazon River. He’s a skilled outdoorsman, though he makes a living selling cheap thrills to tourists. Frank’s fate changes overnight when he meets Lily (Emily Blunt). She pays him to escort her deep into the Amazon Rainforest in search of an item of great importance, but quickly realizes other parties are after the same prize.
Frank and Lily’s relationship is similar to that of Rick and Evelyn at first glance. Like The Mummy, Jungle Cruise is rated PG-13 and offers a fast-paced, lighthearted adventure suitable for a broad audience. The movie is also loosely based on the Disney ride of the same name.
- Release Date
-
May 7, 1999
- Runtime
-
124 minutes
- Director
-
Stephen Sommers
