Brendan Fraser's 124-Minute Action Thriller Classic Is Back From the Dead on Streaming

Brendan Fraser’s career spans decades, from comedies like Encino Man to Oscar-winning drama in The Whale, but his role as Rick O’Connell in The Mummy remains one of his most defining performances. The 1999 adventure film, which follows an American adventurer’s quest to stop an ancient curse in Egypt, has recently climbed Netflix’s top 10 rankings according to FlixPatrol. The resurgence coincides with the release of the first major set photos from The Mummy 4, signaling fresh momentum for the franchise.

The Mummy centers on Rick O’Connell, a former soldier who teams with Egyptologist Evelyn Carnahan and her brother Jonathan to uncover Hamunaptra, the lost city of the dead. Their discovery awakens Imhotep, a cursed high priest seeking resurrection, leading to a series of supernatural battles, treasure hunts, and Fraser’s signature stunt-driven action sequences. The film’s blend of horror, romance, and spectacle made it a late-’90s blockbuster that spawned two sequels and a short-lived reboot.

The franchise expanded with The Mummy Returns in 2001, introducing Dwayne Johnson as the Scorpion King, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in 2008, which relocated the story to China and recast Evelyn with Maria Bello. A 2017 reboot starring Tom Cruise underperformed and failed to launch Universal’s planned Dark Universe, leaving the original Rick and Evie storyline dormant until now.

The Mummy 4 is currently in production with Fraser and Rachel Weisz returning as Rick and Evelyn, marking their first appearance together in the role since 2001. The film is expected to disregard the events of Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, reuniting the original duo after 25 years. Scheduled for release on October 15, 2027, the project aims to revive the franchise’s classic adventure tone.