Entertainment Blog #398 | Lee Cronin's The Mummy [2026] : I Didn't Expect it to be That Extreme..

When it comes to The Mummy movies, most people instantly think about Brendan Fraser running around Egypt with adventure music playing in the background. Or maybe they remember the Tom Cruise reboot attempt. But Lee Cronin's The Mummy is not trying to be either of those. This one drops the action-adventure tone completely and goes full horror mode. And honestly, that alone already feels like a risky move.

“Lee Cronin's The Mummy” (2026) is a #horror #supernatural #mystery film written and directed by Lee Cronin, the filmmaker behind Evil Dead Rise. The movie stars Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace, and Verónica Falcón. Produced by Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and New Line Cinema, the film was released theatrically by Warner Bros. Pictures on April 17, 2026 and later arrived on VOD platforms.

The story begins with Katie, the young daughter of journalist Sam, disappearing without a trace during a trip to Cairo. Years pass. The family moves on as much as they can, even though the pain never really leaves. Then eight years later, something impossible happens. Katie suddenly returns. But this is not exactly a happy reunion.

At first, everyone wants to believe it is a miracle. A daughter has returned home after years. But very quickly, strange things begin happening. Katie does not feel like the same person anymore. Her behavior becomes disturbing and terrifying. Soon the family realizes they may have welcomed back something far darker than they expected. What follows is less of a classic mummy story and more of a body horror and possession nightmare.

There is also an interesting social angle here. Horror movies involving children often play on a universal fear. Parents are supposed to protect their kids, but what happens when they cannot? The movie explores grief, family trauma, and the disturbing idea that sometimes the thing you desperately wanted back may no longer be what you remember. It also reflects modern horror trends where emotional trauma sits at the center of the scares.

On the industry side, the movie had a reported $22 million budget and earned around $86–88 million worldwide, making it a profitable release despite mixed reactions. Critics were divided. It currently sits around 46% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audience scores landed much higher. Many praised the gore and darker approach while others felt the story dragged and leaned too much into The Exorcist territory. Audience reactions online were also mixed, with some horror fans loving the hard R-rated approach and others expecting something closer to the older Mummy films.

So what exactly came back with Katie? Is this really a Mummy movie or something completely different wearing the name? And can a family survive when the thing they wanted most turns into their biggest nightmare? It's up to you to find out.