Ancient Egypt continues to fascinate the modern mind for many reasons. Issues aside, there are some solid movies set in the Land of the Pharaohs. However, Vox thinks that's partially because Hollywood continues to cast white people as Egyptians, and that's certainly a contributing factor in the authenticity department. The other difficulty is that calling a movie empirically good or bad is pretty much impossible. You can just as much enjoy a really awful movie as you can a movie that sweeps every award and is heralded for its emotional core.
Biblical Epics and Animated Marvels
There is no shortage of movies about Moses. The biblical prophet of Ten Commandments fame just begs to be cast into a compelling narrative, whether it's based on fact, fiction, or a little bit of both.
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
According to Collider, "Prince of Egypt" was the very first movie commissioned by DreamWorks, and there is nothing else quite like it despite the extensive resume that DreamWorks currently boasts. Everything in the movie is animated by hand, and the character and scene designs are just plain superior to other animated movies, both of the time and to this day. The darkness of the film is also truly unique to the genre. While DreamWorks has leaned into comedies like "Shrek" and "How To Train Your Dragon," "Prince of Egypt" never deviates from the dark tone that makes it so haunting. There's an actual scene where the angel of death goes around and kills all the firstborns.
Joseph: King of Dreams (2000)
DreamWorks released "Joseph: King of Dreams" as their first made-for-video offering, according to Variety. While it's hard to stack up to the "Prince of Egypt," not to mention the general lack of success in sequels, DreamWorks delivered with another marvel full of rich storytelling and expert voice-acting. Variety draws attention to another focal point of the successes of the film - the music. The Los Angeles Times highlights its "beautiful, big-screen quality, flowing animation and striking computer-generated imagery," as well as quality of its graceful and heartfelt content. And, reading further, it does exactly what "Prince of Egypt" did in not trying to be funny.
Cleopatra: Power, Politics, and Intrigue
The Life of Cleopatra | The Story Of Ancient Egypt's Mysterious Queens
For all of the movies out there about Egypt, there is an adjacent list of all the movies depicting the whimsical Cleopatra as the centerpiece. What this one has that the others don't is a firm dedication to the compelling character Cleopatra is. As Britannica points out, she was so powerful as a leader that she influenced Roman politics at the height of their empire. That is no small feat. In terms of powerful women in history, you need look no further.
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Cleopatra (1963)
If you've got four hours to kill and have already seen too much of "Lawrence of Arabia," the 1963 epic "Cleopatra" is a good place to invest the time.
Carry On Cleopatra (1964)
Following the blockbuster release of the sprawling, four-hour epic "Cleopatra," the British "Carry On" series took its parody recipe and applied it to the hulking ancient Egyptian behemoth. While comedies are by nature a bit more hit-and-miss for critics, this one carries a lot of the successes that can be found elsewhere in the "Carry On" series. Of course, it would be silly to come to a parody for historical authenticity, but the Guardian brings the highlights as well, summarizing the movie as, "spot-on ancient Egyptian boob and toilet jokes," while still taking the time to slight the lack of authenticity. The story itself documents the famous Cleopatra - but remember, don't come to this movie for the story, come for the comedy.
The Mummy: Horror and Adventure
The original "The Mummy" boasts a legacy that stretches back nearly a century. Not only did it give us the remake goodness of Brendan Fraser, but it established the actual monster "the mummy" on the same scale as the budding monster genre superstars it was sharing the big screen with. After Universal Pictures had given the world "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" one year earlier, "The Mummy" took viewers to ancient Egypt like never before. What sets the classic "The Mummy" up isn't even necessarily its horror accolades, according to Audiences Everywhere, though it certainly has roots in that genre.
The Mummy (1999)
There have been a lot of movies that have tried to remake the successes of the 1932 "The Mummy," as Collider points out, but the only one that has hit with any real resonance is the namesake itself - the 1999 remake, "The Mummy," directed by Stephen Sommers. "The Mummy" is a cult classic if ever there was one. Thrillist refers to it (perhaps a little tongue-in-cheek) as the only perfect movie, adding, "'The Mummy' belongs to a more carefree era, where blockbusters were made for a fraction of today's price and not everything had to set up a franchise." Essentially, it was the in the right place at the right time with just the right goods. And it would be irresponsible not to mention how fantastic both Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are.
The Mummy Returns (2001)
Sequels generally don't do as well in nearly every category, according to the Spectator, and the same holds true for the sequel to "The Mummy." But there is still a lot of residual carryover just in having the original cast: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, just to name three, reprise their roles. But for some, like Roger Ebert, one of the perks of the sequel is the addition of Freddie Boath, who plays the son of Fraser and Weisz. According to Ebert, "Alex, the kid, adds a lot to the movie by acting just like a kid. The other notable addition is The Rock, who made his big screen debut right here in "The Mummy Returns." Although you won't see that much of him, and when you do, he may have his head CGI'd atop a giant scorpion.
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Science Fiction and Historical Dramas
Stargate (1994)
While generally (and unfavorably) referred to as a rare movie that was worse than its spinoff shows (via ScreenRant), that doesn't mean that the 1994 science fiction flick "Stargate" isn't worth the viewing experience. Hard to make it sound any better than that. But Datebook doubles up on the original success by speaking to its value to the modern viewer. They say that there is no better time to go back and watch a movie that has always felt like a throwback.
Agora (2009)
The other Egyptian movie with Rachel Weisz, "Agora" also stars Oscar Isaacs and Max Minghella and sets the scene so well of a Roman-occupied Egypt. And as World History Encyclopedia can attest to, this is a surprisingly accurate movie. That said, not everyone wants to learn about history when they see a movie, and for those that just want to be entertained, the New York Times says you are in good hands as well. The official review of the movie highlights how focused on liberal ideals this movie is, ideals that will appeal to the modern audience. Not just that, but it reflects the modern-day too. "Agora" tells the story of a slave (Minghella) who finds the Christian message as his hope to achieve freedom from bondage. All the while, Hypatia (Weisz) teaches science and reason to a class that includes said slave, and a love triangle develops, establishing a thread of romance.
Other Notable Mentions
Here are a few more films that offer unique perspectives on Ancient Egypt:
- The Ten Commandments (1956): The highest-grossing Christian-themed movie of all time, starring Charlton Heston as Moses.
- Pharaoh (1966): A Polish film that tells the story of the fictional Rameses XIII and his quest to reform ancient Egypt.
- Gods of Egypt (2016): By all accounts, "Gods of Egypt" is not a good movie. If you go in knowing exactly what to expect, this is a movie that can satisfy.
| Title | Year | Genre | Notable Actors |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Prince of Egypt | 1998 | Animated, Musical | Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes |
| The Mummy | 1999 | Action, Adventure | Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz |
| Cleopatra | 1963 | Historical Drama | Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton |
| Stargate | 1994 | Science Fiction | Kurt Russell, James Spader |
| Agora | 2009 | Historical Drama | Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella |
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