Lee Cronin's The Mummy Breaks Audience Records Despite Mixed Reviews

Lee Cronin's The Mummy has made waves by surpassing a 27-year-old audience record set by Brendan Fraser's original film. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the reboot has resonated with audiences, achieving a remarkable 77% audience score. The film, which takes a darker approach and focuses on a family's reunion after a mysterious disappearance, features a talented cast and intense horror elements. As Universal Pictures plans a fourth installment with the original stars, fans are eager to see how this new direction unfolds. Discover more about the film's performance and audience reactions in the full article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 20, 2026, 13:18 IST

A New Era for The Mummy Franchise

Lee Cronin's The Mummy debuted in India on April 17, alongside Akshay Kumar's Bhooth Bangla, and has achieved an unexpected milestone. The film has outperformed a long-standing audience record previously held by Brendan Fraser's The Mummy, which stood for 27 years. Although the critical reception has been lukewarm, the horror reboot has resonated with viewers.

Currently, Lee Cronin's The Mummy holds a 45 percent rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with many reviewers pointing out issues with tonal consistency and storytelling. Some have even likened it to Cronin's earlier work, Evil Dead Rise, suggesting that it borrows heavily from that film's style, merely replacing zombies with mummies without introducing fresh elements.

In contrast, audience feedback has been significantly more favorable, with Lee Cronin's The Mummy achieving a 77 percent audience score, surpassing the 75 percent of Brendan Fraser's original. This positions it as the highest-rated film among all entries in the Mummy franchise. Interestingly, it even surpasses most films from various eras of the franchise, although it falls slightly behind The Scorpion King: Book of Souls, which has a 79 percent audience score. While critics have pointed out narrative shortcomings, viewers have been captivated by the film's intense horror aspects, particularly its graphic visuals and eerie atmosphere. Natalie Grace has received notable praise for her haunting portrayal of the possessed daughter.

Produced by Blumhouse Productions and New Line Cinema, Lee Cronin's The Mummy takes a darker, family-oriented approach. The narrative revolves around a fractured family that reunites with their daughter after her mysterious disappearance in Egypt, only to uncover a sinister presence that has returned with her. The cast features Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, and Verónica Falcón. This reboot is entirely distinct from the earlier films starring Fraser.

Fans of the original trilogy can also look forward to more, as Universal Pictures is reportedly working on a fourth installment that will bring back Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah. Producer James Wan approached Lee Cronin with the concept of a new Mummy film, and Cronin expressed a desire to explore new creative avenues. Wan suggested a full embrace of horror, leading to a genuinely terrifying interpretation of The Mummy, which intrigued Cronin. He ultimately decided to forgo directing a sequel to Evil Dead Rise to focus on this darker reimagining.

With a budget of $22 million, Lee Cronin's The Mummy opened to approximately $13 million during its first weekend.