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Watch The Mummy (1999) first. Stephen Sommers’s film is a complete Egyptian adventure with a romantic ensemble, a clearly explained curse and a satisfying ending. The Mummy (2017) is not a sequel to it; Alex Kurtzman’s film is a separate reboot starring Tom Cruise. You can start with either movie, but the 1999 version is the better introduction to the interpretation most viewers mean when they talk about the Fraser-era Mummy films.
At a glance
| Category | The Mummy (1999) | The Mummy (2017) |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Stephen Sommers | Alex Kurtzman |
| Principal cast | Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz and Arnold Vosloo | Tom Cruise, Annabelle Wallis and Sofia Boutella |
| Central threat | The resurrected 3,000-year-old priest Imhotep | Princess Ahmanet, an ancient princess awakened in the present |
| Primary setting | Egyptian desert and archaeological sites | The Middle East and modern London |
| Runtime | 2 hours 5 minutes | 1 hour 51 minutes |
| Rating | PG-13 | PG-13 |
| Continuity | Standalone Fraser-era continuity | Separate reboot continuity |
| Best match | Pulp adventure, romance, comedy and monster spectacle | Contemporary supernatural action and a franchise-launch premise |
The runtime difference is 14 minutes, so duration alone should not decide the order. The important distinction is the kind of movie each one is trying to be: the 1999 film is a self-contained adventure, while the 2017 film is built as the opening of a modern monster franchise.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![The Mummy (1999) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51miR0nSUjL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Mummy (1999) [Blu-ray] | $7.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![The Mummy (1999) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51DHlq8s2qL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Mummy (1999) [Blu-ray] | $15.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Mummy Trilogy (Blu-ray + Digital) | $11.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![The Mummy Ultimate Collection [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51s5OJGPf6L._SL160_.jpg)
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The Mummy Ultimate Collection [Blu-ray] | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![The Mummy Trilogy - 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51LFao1rxpL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Mummy Trilogy - 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital [4K UHD] | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Are the two movies connected?
No. They share the Mummy name and draw on Universal’s monster tradition, but they do not share a story timeline. The 2017 film does not continue Rick O’Connell’s, Evelyn’s or Imhotep’s story, and Fraser-era characters do not return. Instead, it introduces Nick Morton, played by Tom Cruise, and Princess Ahmanet, played by Sofia Boutella.
That makes the choice uncomplicated for a new viewer. There is no required prologue, hidden crossover or continuity homework. Watching the 1999 movie will not explain the 2017 plot, and watching the 2017 movie will not spoil a later chapter of the 1999 story in the way a conventional sequel would. Treat them as two independent interpretations of an ancient-mummy premise.
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What happens in The Mummy (1999)?
The story begins with explorers seeking treasure in the Egyptian desert. Rick O’Connell, librarian Evelyn and an archaeological crew accidentally resurrect Imhotep, a priest who has been dead for 3,000 years. His curse becomes the engine of the plot as the group tries to survive the supernatural consequences of bringing him back.
The film combines the genres Universal identifies as action, adventure, thriller and fantasy. Its structure is easy to follow: an expedition establishes the characters, an archaeological discovery releases the threat, and the resulting curse drives the group through escalating dangers. The supernatural rules are explained clearly enough that the audience can understand what the characters are trying to stop and why their choices matter.
That clarity is a major reason it works as a first watch. You do not need prior knowledge of Egyptian mythology or earlier mummy movies. The exposition is attached to the adventure rather than presented as a separate lecture, and the main relationships remain visible even when the action becomes more elaborate.
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Why the 1999 setup is accessible
- A defined expedition: The archaeological mission gives the opening a practical goal before the supernatural plot takes over.
- A readable threat: Imhotep’s resurrection and curse establish a direct cause-and-effect chain.
- An ensemble with different functions: Rick supplies action experience, Evelyn brings the librarian and researcher perspective, and the wider crew supports the comic and adventure elements.
- A complete arc: The movie was designed to tell its own story rather than reserve its main payoff for a future installment.
What happens in The Mummy (2017)?
The 2017 film starts in the present day. Princess Ahmanet is awakened after millennia, and the supernatural danger moves from the Middle East into the modern world, including London. Nick Morton is the central character, with Tom Cruise playing the role.
This is a contemporary supernatural action film rather than a period expedition. Its premise also functions as a franchise launch: the story introduces a new monster, a new modern setting and a broader mythology intended to support future films. That gives it a different rhythm from the 1999 movie, whose central pleasure comes from following one expedition and its consequences.
Because the 2017 movie is a reboot, its modern-day setting is not an extension of the earlier film’s Egyptian adventure. The change in location and era is deliberate. Viewers looking for present-day action, a darker supernatural premise or Tom Cruise in the lead role may find that setup more appealing than a period pulp adventure.
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How the tone differs
The 1999 film: pulp adventure with romance and comedy
The 1999 movie balances several tones without abandoning its central adventure. It has danger and monster spectacle, but it also emphasizes the romantic connection among its leads and the comic energy of the supporting characters. The result is an accessible mix: frightening events are regularly offset by banter, discovery and the momentum of a treasure-hunting story.
Its fantasy elements are presented as part of a classic adventure framework. Ancient ruins, archaeological clues and a resurrected priest all belong to the same imaginative world, so the movie can move from investigation to action without feeling as if it has changed genres completely.
The 2017 film: modern supernatural action
The 2017 movie uses a more contemporary action vocabulary. Its threat emerges in the present day, and the central premise is less about an archaeological ensemble discovering a curse and more about an awakened supernatural force entering a modern world. The franchise-building setup gives the film a broader, darker mythology than the 1999 adventure.
That difference is not a question of one movie being “more” of a mummy film. They emphasize different pleasures. Choose the 1999 tone for romance, comic supporting characters and old-fashioned adventure momentum. Choose the 2017 tone for a modern setting, a supernatural reboot premise and Tom Cruise’s action-star presence.
Character focus: ensemble versus reboot lead
The 1999 film’s appeal depends on the relationship between Rick and Evelyn as much as on Imhotep. Rick is the experienced adventurer; Evelyn is the librarian whose knowledge and curiosity are essential to understanding what the group has uncovered. Their partnership gives the plot an emotional center while the archaeological crew supplies additional personalities and comic contrast.
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The 2017 film is organized around Nick Morton and Princess Ahmanet. The audience enters the story through Nick’s present-day experience, while Ahmanet supplies the ancient supernatural force. This is a more direct lead-and-antagonist arrangement than the 1999 ensemble. Viewers who prefer a single contemporary action protagonist may find that focus easier to settle into; viewers who want an ensemble journey with a developing romance will find more of that in 1999.
Setting and sense of scale
In the 1999 movie, the Egyptian desert is not just scenery. It is the environment in which the expedition’s choices make sense: the characters travel to archaeological sites, uncover an ancient danger and deal with the consequences in the same broad world. The setting supports the movie’s treasure-hunt identity.
The 2017 movie begins in the present and shifts the danger between the Middle East and London. That contrast lets the supernatural threat collide with familiar modern locations. Its scale comes from the movement between an ancient origin and contemporary cities rather than from one sustained desert expedition.
Use the setting as a practical filter. If you want ruins, desert exploration and an adventure-team dynamic, the 1999 film is the natural fit. If you want an ancient entity disrupting the modern world, the 2017 premise addresses that preference directly.
Runtime, pacing and the best viewing situation
The Mummy (1999) runs 2 hours 5 minutes, while The Mummy (2017) runs 1 hour 51 minutes. Both are rated PG-13. The 2017 film is therefore the shorter appointment, but the difference is modest enough that pacing preference matters more than the clock.
The 1999 runtime gives its expedition, relationships and curse room to develop. It is a good choice for a planned movie night in which you want a full beginning, middle and end. The 2017 runtime suits viewers who want a quicker modern action film or who are sampling the reboot without committing to the longer adventure format.
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Neither runtime establishes a universal winner. A viewer choosing solely by length should select 2017; a viewer choosing by narrative completeness should select 1999.
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Which movie fits your taste?
| If you want… | Choose | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| A self-contained story | 1999 | Its expedition, resurrection and curse form one complete adventure. |
| Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz | 1999 | They lead the Rick-and-Evelyn partnership at the center of the film. |
| Tom Cruise in the lead | 2017 | Nick Morton is the modern protagonist. |
| A romantic ensemble | 1999 | The adventure is built around Rick, Evelyn and the archaeological crew. |
| A present-day setting | 2017 | The awakened threat reaches the modern world, including London. |
| A shorter film | 2017 | It runs 1 hour 51 minutes rather than 2 hours 5 minutes. |
| A reboot and franchise-launch premise | 2017 | Its mythology is introduced as a new continuity. |
| Classic pulp monster spectacle | 1999 | Its tone combines action, adventure, thriller, fantasy, romance and comedy. |
Should you watch both, and in what order?
For most viewers, watch the 1999 movie first and then treat the 2017 film as an unrelated reboot. This order gives you the more self-contained adventure before the more contemporary franchise setup, without creating a continuity problem.
If your priority is Tom Cruise, a modern setting or a shorter runtime, start with 2017 instead. You will not be missing essential information from the 1999 movie because the stories are separate. You can then watch 1999 as a contrasting interpretation rather than as a prequel.
A double feature also works in either order, provided you explain the relationship correctly to anyone watching with you: these are parallel continuities, not chapters in one saga. The 1999 film does not establish the backstory for the 2017 film, and the 2017 film does not conclude or revise the Fraser-era story.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the reception tells you
Rotten Tomatoes’ 2026 page snapshot lists the 1999 film at 64% on the Tomatometer from 108 reviews and a 75% audience score from more than 250,000 ratings. Those figures are a time-stamped snapshot, not permanent measurements; scores can change as the site adds or recalculates ratings. The audience result indicates a durable viewer response even though the critic score is more mixed.
The critical response is captured neatly by Roger Ebert’s line, quoted by Time in 2017: “There is hardly a thing I can say in its favor, except that I was cheered by nearly every minute of it.” The comment identifies the film’s central strength as entertainment value rather than prestige seriousness. That is consistent with its adventure-first design.
Reception data cannot decide which version you will prefer. It can, however, clarify expectations: the 1999 film has a substantial audience history and a reputation for being fun, while the 2017 film should be approached as a distinct reboot rather than as the definitive continuation of that earlier response.
Where the Fraser-era movies fit
If the 1999 movie works for you, Universal’s The Mummy Ultimate Collection is the physical option that groups the Fraser-era run with related material. The Blu-ray + Digital and DVD collection contains The Mummy (1999), The Mummy Returns, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and The Scorpion King.
The collection is useful after you have decided that you want to continue with that version of the property. It does not make the 2017 reboot part of the same continuity, and it should not be read as a recommended viewing requirement for the standalone 1999 film.
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Availability and ratings caveats
Both movies carry a PG-13 rating, but a rating does not describe their tone precisely. The 1999 film uses the rating within a fantasy adventure that also contains romance and comedy; the 2017 film applies it to a modern supernatural action story. Parents and viewers sensitive to horror should check the specific content that concerns them rather than relying on the rating alone.
Streaming availability is territory- and date-dependent. A service carrying one title in one country may not carry it in another, and catalogs change. Check the current listings in your region before planning a watch, or use a physical release when you need a more stable option.
Final decision
Start with The Mummy (1999) unless you have a specific reason to prefer the reboot. It offers the clearest introduction to Rick, Evelyn, Imhotep and the Egyptian adventure format, and it finishes its own story without requiring a sequel. Pick The Mummy (2017) first when your priorities are Tom Cruise, a present-day supernatural threat, a shorter runtime or the curiosity of seeing a separate reboot premise. Whichever title you choose, watch it as its own continuity rather than expecting a connected series.
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