ABSTRACT
Ancient Egypt is one of the most popular archaeological film genres. From epic blockbusters to Grade B thrillers to soft porn, Egypt provides an exotic setting for a wide range of stories. Ancient Egypt-themed films fall into three basic genres that often overlap: biblical/costume epics; Cleopatra; and mummies. No trip to a museum or Egypt was complete without a close encounter with a mummy and tickets were issued to mummy unwrapping parties, which became all the rage in affluent society. The ancient Egyptian mummy in film, by far the most popular Egypt-themed genre, recently burst into theatres again with Universal Studios special effects-driven remake and sequel, The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. Mummy films combine elements of the other genres the sensual, mysterious East with exotic settings and costumes. The emergence of the genre is often credited to the notoriety surrounding Tutankhamen's tomb, especially rumours of a curse that supposedly killed people associated with the archaeological project.
