A Tom Cruise Flop That Tried to Spark a Franchise Is Finding New Life on HBO Max
When "The Mummy" hit theaters in 2017, it was meant to be the grand opening act for Universal's ambitious Dark Universe — a shared cinematic universe centered on classic monster characters. But instead of launching a new era in monster movies, it quickly became a notorious failure that seemed to doom the entire project. Yet now, surprisingly, the film is experiencing a bit of a revival thanks to HBO Max viewers, who have helped it climb to number 10 on the streamer’s most-watched movies chart in the United States.
Originally, "The Mummy" was designed as the first domino in a series of films — including projects like an Angelina Jolie-led "Bride of Frankenstein" and a rebooted "Invisible Man." Unfortunately, the movie stumbled badly at the box office and with critics alike. Directed by Alex Kurtzman, the film fell victim to the common pitfall of franchise filmmaking: focusing too much on teasing future installments rather than crafting a compelling, standalone story. This approach backfired spectacularly.
Critics absolutely hated it, giving it a mere 15% on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews described it as “one of the worst films of the year,” a “confusing mess of bones and bandages,” and as feeling “less like a movie and more like a product designed by a corporate team.” In other words, it was widely dismissed as a textbook disaster — a glaring example of how not to build a shared universe, especially coming on the heels of Marvel’s immense success. Financially, it grossed $409 million worldwide on a hefty $195 million budget. While that might sound like a lot, in Hollywood terms it fell short of expectations and was a considerable disappointment for Universal.
But here’s where things get interesting: despite being considered dead on arrival, "The Mummy" has been resurrected in the streaming era. Since making its debut on HBO Max on October 1, 2025, it’s been embraced by subscribers and pushed its way into the top 10 most-watched films, according to FlixPatrol, a streaming analytics site. This resurgence seems largely driven by its recent addition to the platform and the Halloween season, when viewers are naturally gravitating towards spooky entertainment.
In the film, Tom Cruise stars as Nick Morton, a U.S. Army sergeant who explores the tomb of an ancient Egyptian princess named Ahmanet, played by Sofia Boutella. Accompanied by his partner Chris Vail (Jake Johnson) and British archaeologist Jennifer Halsey (Annabelle Wallis), Morton unleashes a curse that transforms Ahmanet from a long-entombed princess into a deadly undead force. The story unfolds as Morton battles to stop Ahmanet’s rampage and prevent the rise of Set, the god of death, who plans to possess Morton as his new vessel.
Unfortunately, Universal seemed far more focused on planting seeds for additional franchise movies than delivering an engaging and satisfying film experience. The Dark Universe, an ambitious but faltering idea, deserved a much stronger introduction than this underwhelming and anticlimactic debut. So while the newfound interest in "The Mummy" on HBO Max might give fans a nostalgic thrill, it's a bittersweet redemption for a project that struggled so hard to find its footing.
Eight years after disappointing both fans and critics, "The Mummy" has found a second wind on HBO Max, just in time for Halloween. If you're curious about a blockbuster that initially failed but now intrigues viewers anew—maybe as a spooky seasonal watch—give it a try. But beware: it’s a film weighed down by franchise troubles and questionable budget decisions, which some might argue still make it more of a cautionary tale than a classic.
What do you think? Has "The Mummy" been unfairly dismissed, or is it a perfect example of why rushed franchise-building rarely works? Share your thoughts below – this is the part most people miss when judging films like this!
