The Mummy
An ancient Egyptian princess is awakened from her crypt beneath the desert, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.
Despite a significant budget of $125.0M, The Mummy became a solid performer, earning $409.2M worldwide—a 227% return.
4 wins & 18 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Nick Morton is introduced as a morally flexible U.S. Soldier in Iraq, looting antiquities with his partner Vail, establishing his self-serving nature before supernatural forces intervene.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when An airstrike reveals Ahmanet's hidden tomb beneath the Iraqi desert. Nick's greed leads him to descend into the prison, awakening the ancient evil and becoming marked as her chosen vessel.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Nick chooses to help Jenny and Prodigium stop Ahmanet rather than flee, crossing from reluctant victim to active participant in the supernatural conflict, even as the mummy's influence over him grows., moving from reaction to action.
At 55 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Ahmanet captures Jenny as leverage over Nick. The stakes shift from survival to rescue as Nick realizes his connection to the mummy puts everyone he cares about in mortal danger - a false defeat that personalizes the conflict., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 83 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jenny drowns in the flooded tunnels beneath London. Nick holds her lifeless body as Ahmanet offers him the power to bring her back - but only if he completes the ritual and becomes Set's vessel. His humanity appears to have cost Jenny her life., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Nick makes the ultimate sacrifice - he stabs himself with the Dagger of Set, accepting the curse on his own terms rather than Ahmanet's. He chooses to become a monster to save humanity, synthesizing selfish desire with selfless purpose., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Mummy's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Mummy against these established plot points, we can identify how Alex Kurtzman utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Mummy within the action genre.
Alex Kurtzman's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Alex Kurtzman films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Mummy exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alex Kurtzman filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Alex Kurtzman analyses, see People Like Us.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nick Morton is introduced as a morally flexible U.S. soldier in Iraq, looting antiquities with his partner Vail, establishing his self-serving nature before supernatural forces intervene.
Theme
Jenny Halsey confronts Nick about his theft of her research, telling him that choices have consequences - foreshadowing his ultimate choice between darkness and humanity.
Worldbuilding
The world is established through parallel storylines: ancient Egypt shows Ahmanet's betrayal and curse, while present-day Iraq introduces Nick's roguish partnership with Vail and his complicated history with archaeologist Jenny.
Disruption
An airstrike reveals Ahmanet's hidden tomb beneath the Iraqi desert. Nick's greed leads him to descend into the prison, awakening the ancient evil and becoming marked as her chosen vessel.
Resistance
Nick debates what to do as the curse takes hold. Vail becomes possessed and dies. The cargo plane crashes spectacularly. Nick survives impossibly, is captured by Prodigium, and meets Dr. Henry Jekyll who explains the supernatural threat.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nick chooses to help Jenny and Prodigium stop Ahmanet rather than flee, crossing from reluctant victim to active participant in the supernatural conflict, even as the mummy's influence over him grows.
Mirror World
Jenny becomes Nick's anchor to humanity as she explains what's at stake. Their growing connection contrasts with Ahmanet's seductive manipulation, establishing the thematic battle for Nick's soul between human love and dark power.
Premise
The promise of the premise delivers monster movie thrills: Ahmanet escapes Prodigium, raises undead servants, and pursues Nick through London. Nick and Jenny race to understand the Dagger of Set while Jekyll transforms into Hyde.
Midpoint
Ahmanet captures Jenny as leverage over Nick. The stakes shift from survival to rescue as Nick realizes his connection to the mummy puts everyone he cares about in mortal danger - a false defeat that personalizes the conflict.
Opposition
Ahmanet grows more powerful, raising an army of crusader undead beneath London. Nick's visions intensify as she tightens her psychic grip. Prodigium's resources are overwhelmed. Nick struggles against succumbing to darkness while trying to save Jenny.
Collapse
Jenny drowns in the flooded tunnels beneath London. Nick holds her lifeless body as Ahmanet offers him the power to bring her back - but only if he completes the ritual and becomes Set's vessel. His humanity appears to have cost Jenny her life.
Crisis
Nick cradles Jenny's body in despair, facing an impossible choice. Ahmanet waits triumphantly with the complete Dagger of Set. The selfish man who stole antiquities must decide whether to damn himself to save the woman who showed him something worth protecting.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Nick makes the ultimate sacrifice - he stabs himself with the Dagger of Set, accepting the curse on his own terms rather than Ahmanet's. He chooses to become a monster to save humanity, synthesizing selfish desire with selfless purpose.
Synthesis
Empowered by Set, Nick defeats Ahmanet by draining her life force with a kiss, reducing her to a withered corpse. He uses his new supernatural abilities to resurrect Jenny, demonstrating that human will can control divine power rather than be controlled by it.
Transformation
Nick walks into the Egyptian desert with the resurrected Vail, now a being of immense dark power who chose humanity. Jenny watches him disappear - the selfish thief transformed into a cursed guardian, alone but purposeful.