The Mummy

The "Mummy" film franchise of the 1990s and early 2000s, starting with the 1999 film "The Mummy," starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, has had a significant impact on the action movie genre. Despite mixed reviews upon its release, the movie is now fondly remembered for its high-action antics, spooky curses, and the victory of good over ancient evil. As a summer blockbuster, it was not just a fun movie but also a game-changer for many action films that would follow. The success of this film paved the way for many other favorite action flicks, even though there has not been another film quite like it​.

Technically a remake of the 1932 Universal monster film of the same name, "The Mummy" took the original movie's story and transformed it into a unique blend of action, horror, and comedy. This approach to remaking classic films could be seen in later movies, such as "Ocean's Eleven," "The Manchurian Candidate," and "War of the Worlds." Brendan Fraser's performance as Rick O'Connell, which defied the stoic action hero mold, has been likened to a comic book action hero and could be seen influencing performances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe​.

The historical aspects of "The Mummy" also influenced other action films, making historical knowledge a central part of their plots. Movies like "National Treasure" followed a similar concept of unearthing ancient mysteries and outsmarting deadly booby traps. Furthermore, "The Mummy's" success led to a sequel, "The Mummy Returns," and the spin-off prequel, "The Scorpion King," establishing a small franchise based on the ancient Mediterranean​. The film's balanced use of practical and computer-generated special effects set a standard for combining multiple technologies to achieve timeless results, a practice that continues to this day​. Lastly, "The Mummy's" blend of horror and comedy helped pave the way for a slew of horror-comedies that followed​.