The Mummy's Unofficial Sequel Is A Great Watch While Waiting For Brendan Fraser's Mummy 4

Published Aug 9, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT Dalton is a freelance writer, novelist, and filmmaker from Orlando Florida. He currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, and pursues writing full-time. He is an avid reader, film buff, and amateur historian who also publishes novels on the side. Dalton graduated from the University of Central Florida with a BFA in Film and he often applies his industry-specific knowledge when writing about film and television. Along with his blog, Dalton's critical essays on film have been published in various places online. Though it's largely forgotten today, The Mummy's unofficial sequel is an excellent way to pass the time until Brendan Fraser returns in The Mummy 4. Released in the summer of 1999, The Mummy saw Universal return to its classic monster franchise after it sat dormant for decades. However, the blockbuster made some pretty significant changes to the established lore. The Brendan Fraser vehicle combined classic monster chills with action/adventure thrills, creating a spooky and fun mashup that was just what moviegoers were looking for. The epic scope blew a lot of contemporary summer blockbusters out of the water, and it hearkened back to the opulent days of Hollywood's Golden Age. That trend would continue in 2001's The Mummy Returns. Sadly, the franchise would falter as the 2000s wore on, and only one more film would hit theaters. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor was a massive disappointment, and the series was put on hold for nearly two decades. Now, a fourth film is in the works, and several major cast members are set to return in their familiar roles. The Mummy 4 won't release for some time, so fans need something to tide them over. Universal had the same thought back in 2004, and they produced an unofficial sequel to The Mummy that tried to capture the spirit of the franchise. Though it's mostly forgotten today, the underrated box office hit still holds a special place in the hearts of those that saw it back in the day. The action horror flick is still a great temporary substitute for The Mummy 4. Van Helsing Was Universal's Follow-Up To The Mummy Though it technically isn't a sequel to The Mummy, Universal's intentions with Van Helsing were quite clear. Not only does the film feature the studio's classic monsters, it's made with the same action/adventure style and tone. While there are some creepy moments, it's clear that the action takes center stage. The comparisons don't stop there. Van Helsing is directed by Stephen Sommers, the man behind The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, and he brings the same flair to the 2004 release. To really hammer home the comparisons between the two films, Universal even released Van Helsing into theaters almost exactly five years to the day after the release of The Mummy. Van Helsing Doesn't Beat The Mummy, But It's Still Worth Watching There's no denying that Van Helsing isn't nearly as good as The Mummy, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth watching. It features Hugh Jackman in the leading role, and Kate Beckinsale, fresh from her first appearance in the Underworld franchise. The movie has an undeniable action horror pedigree, and a fun sense of flair that comes from Stephen Sommers' direction. While The Mummy focuses squarely on its titular villain, Van Helsing includes vampires, a man-made monster, werewolves, and even Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It's a loving tribute to the classic stories from the penny dreadfuls, and embraces the gothic look of the classic Universal horror flicks from the '30s and '40s. In short, it's the kind of risky blockbuster epic that wouldn't get made today. Could Van Helsing Come Back Now That The Mummy Is? The short answer is probably not. While the return of The Mummy franchise is something moviegoers have been asking about for years, Van Helsing isn't remembered nearly as fondly. The film got pretty miserable reviews back in 2004, and its $300 million box office was offset by a production budget of $170 million. With additional costs factored into the equation, the movie was actually a pretty big bomb. That's not to say that a sequel was never planned. In fact, Universal began development on a follow-up before the first film even came out. The financial failure of Van Helsing doomed that plan, and likely means that Hugh Jackman will never don the leather duster and pick up his crossbow ever again. It isn't all doom and gloom though, and there's still time to make Van Helsing a cult classic. The impending release of The Mummy's next movie will likely spur interest in similar films. This means that Van Helsing is poised to get a nostalgic bump in attention soon. There are very few films out there like The Mummy, so Stephen Sommers' other action horror flick is bound to land on the radar once again. Source: Box Office Mojo, MovieWeb Release Date May 3, 2004 Runtime 132 Minutes Director Stephen Sommers