The Mummy Returns

Rick and Evelyn O'Connell are living a life that mixes family with danger, raising their young son Alex while still haunted by their past brushes with Egyptian curses. When Alex becomes the unwitting bearer of the Bracelet of Anubis, an artifact tied to the Scorpion King's supernatural might, old enemies resurface. Imhotep is back and hungry for power, willing to kidnap the boy to seize control of Anubis's otherworldly army. The movie follows the O'Connells, their friends, and new allies as they race to save Alex and stop a host of ancient forces from sweeping the modern world, all while delivering big action set pieces and supernatural spectacle.

Directed by Stephen Sommers, this 2001 sequel reunites Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz and Arnold Vosloo, and continues the story set up in 1999's The Mummy. Its production pushed practical stunts and visual effects to create larger scale sequences than the original.

The film arrived as a major summer release and did strong business, reinforcing the franchise's standing and prompting additional entries and spin-offs. Audiences turned out for its mix of action, comedy and fantasy, helping it become one of the better performing blockbusters of the season.

Several sequences from the movie stuck in popular memory, from the massive arena showdown tied to the Scorpion King to the procession of undead warriors. Its visual effects and stunt work influenced later adventure pictures, and the film directly inspired the spin-off centered on the Scorpion King character.

Critical response was mixed, reflected in an average user score near the mid sixes, with many viewers praising the movie's energy, effects and performances, while others pointed to an overstuffed plot and a reliance on spectacle. Thematic currents include family loyalty, the cost of power, and the collision of ancient myth with modern life, and the film works best when it balances character moments with its set-piece thrills.