Movies

The Mummies of the ‘Mummy’ Franchise, Ranked

From Universal to Hammer, the reincarnated baddies in the ‘Mummy’ franchise have presented themselves in various iterations throughout the years — some scary, some funny, others a little bit of both, some neither. Let’s rank ’em.
By  · Published on June 8th, 2017

6. Eddie Powell in The Mummy’s Shroud (1967)

The Mummy’s Shroud is a pedestrian effort that was never going to win any awards for redefining the reincarnated-Egyptian-on-the-loose movie, but it scores extra points for possessing quite the mean streak and having the Mummy wield an axe. On top of that, the costume was based on a real-life display in London’s British Museum at the time, although here it’s a combination of authentic in some parts, cheap in others, but charming nonetheless. Eddie Powell, who was primarily known for his stunt work in the film’s of Christopher Lee, might not have showcased the range his superior did as The Mummy eight years prior, but he brings with conviction and looks good in the garb swinging a melee weapon. That’s all one needs in a movie like The Mummy’s Shroud.

5. Tom Tyler in The Mummy’s Hand (1940)

A reboot of the 1932 original, The Mummy’s Hand might not offer much in the way of suspense and intended scares, but it is entertaining nonetheless. In that sense, you could argue that it was a precursor to the Stephen Sommer series, which provided Indiana Jones-style adventure with a few goofy laughs thrown in for good measure. However, despite the film’s more comedic sensibilities, Tom Tyler’s presentation as the bandaged brute, Kharis, is pretty impressive. This is because pioneering makeup artist and monster creator Jack P. Pierce was on hand to make the actor look scary. Unfortunately here the Mummy’s role is all too brief and resigned to providing the muscle for the fanatical priest, Andoheb (played by George Zucco). That said, when Kharis does appear on screen he looks the part, but if he had more opportunities to make a significant impact then he’d be more memorable, I’m sure.

4. Boris Karloff in The Mummy (1932)

In the pantheon of horror cinema’s greatest icons, very few are as notable for bringing the undead to life quite like Karloff. He was revolutionary, as evidenced through his terrifying, sympathetic, and wildly popular portrayal of the monster in Universal’s original Frankenstein in 1931 and subsequent sequels, Bride of Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein. Although a versatile actor whose credits included everything from Scarface to the animated feature The Grinch, his unusual appearance and voice made him a perfect fit for scare fare — and he was a bona fide genre superstar. In 1932, he would help usher in another Universal franchise, this time playing the reincarnated Egyptian priest Imhotep in The Mummy. Once again, Karloff delivers a performance worthy of acclaim, and his natural features lend themselves naturally to Jack P. Pierce’s impressive, yet understated, makeup design. Couple this with an abundance of atmosphere and the film remains a charming chiller that’s stood the test of the time. I wouldn’t call it scary by any means, but Karloff’s natural ghoulishness is nightmare juice.

3. Sofia Boutella in The Mummy (2017)

Early response hasn’t been kind to the latest installment of The Mummy franchise, with many critics suggesting that it’s effectively killed the Dark Universe upon arrival.  Only time will tell how it will fair long-term. However, as far as Sofia Boutella’s Princess Ahmanet goes, on a basic surface level, she looks like a menacing, apocalyptic harbinger. When you place her image alongside the other mummies in both the Universal and Hammer vaults, she stands out as a unique, mystical entity. As this list is about style over substance, this one is a contender.

2. Lon Chaney Jr. in The Mummy’s Tomb (1942), The Mummy’s Ghost (1944), and The Mummy’s Curse (1944)

When traversing the history of horror and its most influential figures, Lon Chaney Jr. is a name you’ll see crop up from time to time. Arguably best known for playing the protagonist and titular beast in the Wolf Man series, Chaney also played Frankenstein’s Monster in The Ghost of Frankenstein. He completed the unholy trifecta of playing Universal Monsters when he accepted the role of Kharis for three sequels to The Mummy’s Hand following the departure of Tom Tyler. By no means do any of these movies mark the franchise’s apex when it comes to quality, but for 1940s B-movie fare, they do manage to entertain, and the monster makeup looks amazing, while the costume design is simple but expertly done. Of course, you won’t be surprised to know that Jack P. Pierce’s contributions are present in all three films. Even though Chaney is relegated to the role of a lackey like Tyler before him, he does look the part and his imposing presence adds some oomph to his rampages. However, at the same time, these movies were a waste of his acting prowess and you can’t help but wonder what could have been if he was allowed to sink his teeth into a more complex character, like Karloff’s before. But these movies are exactly what they need to be, and on the merit of Mummy design, they hit the spot.

1. Christopher Lee in The Mummy (1959)

Speaking of horror icons, Christopher Lee is arguably the most famous of them all. He rose to fame playing the titular bloodsucker in Hammer’s adaptation of Dracula, and while that’s a role he’ll be forever remembered for, some of his finest work with the studio, and in general, came through roles that live in the Count’s shadow. One such role was Terence Fisher’s The Mummy. The costume itself is beautifully decayed and horrifying, but it also gives Lee room to showcase emotion, which helps us understand — and even empathize — with the Mummy. Through a combination of practical creature makeup and costumes, as well as Lee’s ability to portray Kharis as a terrifying force of destruction with underlying romantic turmoil, this incarnation remains the one to beat to this day.

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Kieran is a Contributor to the website you're currently reading. He also loves the movie Varsity Blues.