Brendan Fraser’s comeback sparks a surge in popularity for The Mummy on Netflix

Brendan Fraser’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. He transitioned from the charming goofball in *Encino Man* to battling dinosaurs in *Journey to the Center of the Earth*, clinching an Oscar for *The Whale*, and becoming an unlikely action hero in one of the most beloved adventure franchises of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Now, one of Fraser’s most memorable roles is experiencing a resurgence on Netflix.

That film is *The Mummy*, the 1999 adventure blockbuster that transformed Fraser’s Rick O’Connell into a lasting pop-culture icon. *The Mummy* is currently rising through Netflix’s rankings, coinciding with the first major set photos from the much-anticipated *The Mummy 4* making their way online.

The film has entered Netflix’s top 10 this week. Although the new installment isn’t set to debut until 2027, it’s the perfect time to revisit this thrilling journey through the Sahara Desert.

Released in 1999, *The Mummy* follows Rick O’Connell, an American adventurer who teams up with librarian and aspiring Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) and her brother Jonathan (John Hannah) to explore the ancient Egyptian city of Hamunaptra. Their expedition inadvertently awakens Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), an ancient high priest cursed to exist as an undead creature.

What unfolds is a quintessential ’90s adventure film, packed with ancient curses, supernatural terrors, treasure hunts, romance, explosions, and Fraser diving into increasingly outrageous battles.

The film was a massive hit, leading to *The Mummy Returns* in 2001, which brought back Fraser, Weisz, Hannah, and Vosloo, while introducing Dwayne Johnson as the Scorpion King. A third installment, *The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor*, followed in 2008, shifting the action to China and replacing Weisz with Maria Bello as Evelyn.

The franchise saw a reboot with Tom Cruise in 2017, but that version took a different approach and failed to kickstart the planned “Dark Universe.”

*The Mummy 4* is currently in production, with Fraser and Weisz both reprising their roles. Weisz’s return is especially significant as she hasn’t portrayed Evelyn since *The Mummy Returns*. The upcoming film is expected to disregard the events of *Tomb of the Dragon Emperor*, effectively reuniting the original Rick and Evie for the first time in over 25 years.

The new movie is slated for release in theaters on October 15, 2027.