After several failed attempts to resurrect the franchise, The Mummy Awakens (2025) finally delivers what fans have long craved: a return to the thrilling, supernatural roots that made the original The Mummy (1999) a cult classic. Directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Men), this reboot/sequel blends cerebral horror, adventure, and myth in a darker, more suspenseful story that honors the past while pushing into deeper, deadlier territory.
Set decades after the events of the 1999 trilogy, The Mummy Awakens opens with the unearthing of a forgotten tomb deep beneath the sands of Sudan. Within it lies the resting place of Queen Neferkaya, an exiled Egyptian high priestess who was erased from history for practicing forbidden necromancy. As archaeologists disturb her cursed tomb, a wave of deaths and plagues spreads across North Africa.
Enter Evelyn O’Connell (Rachel Weisz, returning in a pivotal role), now a reclusive scholar haunted by visions of sandstorms and fire. When her estranged son, Alex O’Connell (now played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson), is pulled into the investigation, mother and son must reunite—both with each other and with ancient powers they thought were buried forever.
But Neferkaya (portrayed with commanding menace by Sofia Boutella) is unlike any mummy before. She doesn’t seek mere vengeance—she intends to awaken Du’at, the Egyptian underworld, and drag the living world into eternal darkness. As time warps and reality cracks, the O’Connells must turn to ancient magic, unlikely allies, and forgotten gods to stop the rise of a deathless empire.
The Mummy Awakens leans heavily into horror-adventure, channeling the mood of The Exorcist mixed with Indiana Jones and The Witch. It’s not a goofy romp—it’s tense, atmospheric, and filled with unsettling imagery, like scarabs pouring from eyes, tombs folding in on themselves, and ghostly hieroglyphs appearing on skin.
Garland’s direction gives it weight and eeriness, while still delivering crowd-pleasing action scenes—especially a battle in a collapsing pyramid and a surreal fight inside a shifting dream-realm of the underworld.
Rachel Weisz’s return is heartfelt and powerful, anchoring the emotional weight of the film.
Sofia Boutella brings grace and fury to the mummy, creating one of the most visually terrifying villains in the franchise.
The score by Ben Frost mixes Egyptian instrumentation with unsettling electronic drones.
The Mummy Awakens is the reinvention fans have been waiting for—rich in lore, steeped in horror, and driven by character. It’s not just a return of an undead queen—it’s the return of a franchise with real soul.
