5 Movies To Watch If You Liked ‘The Mummy’

Tom Cruise’s iteration of The Mummy is in theaters this weekend, and it’s a pretty big departure from many of the big-budget adventure films out there.

Regardless of ratings, reviews & scores, The Mummy still stands on its own. It’s not terrifying like other horror films, but it isn’t as light-hearted as most action films. The Mummy is fairly good mix of both.

If you went to see the movie, and found yourself enjoying it, you’re probably struggling to find other films that are of a similar style. The predicament is understandable, because there aren’t many out there.

Don’t worry though, we’ve done some of the heavy lifting for you. If you really enjoyed The Mummy, here are five other movies you should give a try.

The Mummy (1999)

Okay, this seems a little bit obvious, but this version of The Mummy is undoubtedly the closest relation to the new installment.

The film stars Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, and it’s a little more adventurous than the Tom Cruise vehicle. With that in mind, it’s honestly a little more fun to watch.

Since Fraser’s Mummy isn’t trying to set up an entire connected universe, and since it didn’t take itself quite as seriously, it hits higher marks on many parts of the story.

The movie spawned a couple of sequels, and even featured The Rock in an awful CGI performance as The Scorpion King. It’s so bad that it’s hard not to enjoy it.

Honestly, the best Mummy film is the Boris Karloff version from 1932, just don’t expect it to be anything like the new one.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl

The fifth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is currently in theaters, proving that the films know how to make money. However, none of the movies have been incredible since the first outing.

Starring Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightly, Pirates was a beautiful adventure on the high seas that still managed to have a few horror elements mixed in. The villain, played by Geoffrey Rush, led an army of cursed pirates who turned to skeletons in the moonlight.

Curse of the Black Pearl reinvented the summer blockbuster, and remains one of the best adventure movies of the last 20 years.

If you enjoyed The Mummy, but thought it could have been better, you’ll be pleased with Pirates of the Caribbean. Plus, it’s streaming on Netflix.

World War Z

World War Z aired more on the side of horror/thriller than it did adventure, and the movie was better off for it. The concept of zombies has never seemed to intense.

Starring Brad Pitt, World War Z imagines the zombie apocalypse as more of a disaster tale than a simple outbreak. The creatures sprint at full speed, and are a bit more organized than those in The Walking Dead.

This movie will have you on the edge of your seat, from start to finish. It’ll be hard to catch your breath. Plus, Brad Pitt is an admirable leading man that many will have an easy time believing in.

I Am Legend

Much like World War Z, I Am Legend is more of a thriller than anything else. Will Smith gives a devastatingly honest performance, and there are moments where it’s truly scary.

Where I Am Legend truly succeeds is in its ability to make the audience feel as totally helpless as the main character. It makes the movie feel authentic in a way that most don’t.

The Mummy attempted to get creepy with its creatures, and mostly succeeded. I Am Legend however, created truly chilling monsters that had many leaning back in their seats.

If you haven’t seen I Am Legend, it should instantly rise to the top of your list.

War of the Worlds

Is War of the Worlds a perfect movie? Not at all, but it’s the kind of unique adventure that doesn’t come around often.

Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg directed the film, and his artistic choices are enough to justify the price of admission.

Fans of The Mummy will especially enjoy War of the Worlds because of its leading man. Tom Cruise stars in the film and gives a much better performance than he did in his latest outing. And there’s plenty of scenes where he just runs from terrifying things, so it checks that box as well.

War of the Worlds also has a little more heart than a film like The Mummy, mainly due to the addition of an entire family to the plot. It’s easier to get invested in Cruise’s character here because of just that.