Best Movies Based on Egyptian Mythology, Ranked

Moon Knight, a Marvel television miniseries, has invoked a thirst for Egyptian mythology. While there has always been a fascination with ancient civilizations and legends, the miniseries has left viewers wanting more. It's no secret that most of the audience for the show are avid fans of ancient myths. Whether we read stories, see illustrations, or look at artistic representations, Egyptian mythology has something that draws in viewers and ignites their imagination.

Growing up, it was either Indiana Jones or The Mummy that satisfied the hunger for adventure, historical myths, and knowledge related to the afterlife. They were the source of media that showed temples, pyramids, mummies, and hieroglyphs; something that all history lovers look forward to. There are several productions that can be seen to know more about the gods, legends, and tragedies related to one of the greatest empires of all time. The films take the audience all the way back to Ancient Egypt without leaving their home. Here are some of the best films based on Egyptian mythology:

7 Cleopatra (1963)

Cleopatra is a historical drama directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Known as the representation of Goddess Isis, Cleopatra (Elizabeth Taylor) was the last of the Pharaohs. After three years of joint reign, she was stripped of her title as the Queen of Egypt by her brother, Ptolemy XII (Richard O’Sullivan). She was then exiled to Greece. The film brilliantly captures how Cleopatra was able to gather a large army along the border of the kingdom. Simultaneously, Julius Caeser (Rex Harrison) gathered soldiers to collect taxes from Egypt. There, he met Cleopatra and fell madly in love with her, thanks to her wisdom and beauty. There’s a tragic love story, and battles that are sure to highlight the reality of what took place from 46 to 48 B.C. Cleopatra is also slated to get a remake soon, starring Gal Gadot.

6 Land of the Pharaohs (1955)

Produced and directed by Howard Hawks, Land of the Pharaohs is an American film that depicts the reign of Pharaoh Khufu (Jack Hawkins) and the fictional narrative of how the Great Pyramid was built. Khufu or Cheops is a King so obsessed with wealth and power that he wants to bring it with him to the afterlife. Therefore, he orders the construction of a theft-proof pyramid. He hands this project over to a famous architect, Vashtar (James Robertson), and promises to free him and his people when the pyramid is finished. He even marries a princess in hopes of increasing his workforce through her people. However, the princess has her own plans to overthrow the pharaoh.

5 The Mummy (2017)

Directed by Alex Kurtzman, The Mummy is a 2017 reboot film about Nick Morton (Tom Cruise), who is a soldier that hunts for ancient artifacts and sells them at a high price. Things change when Nick and his partner come across an attack in the Middle East, and accidentally unearth the sealed Egyptian tomb of princess Ahmanet. When the seal is broken, Ahmanet revives and brings havoc to the streets of London.

4 Gods of Egypt (2016)

Gods of Egypt is directed and produced by Alex Proyas and Basil Iwanyk. This film entails the story of when Ancient Egypt was taken over by Set (Gerard Butler), the God of darkness. He plunges the ever-thriving empire into conflict and chaos with his powers, and forces the citizens to submit to him. Bek (Brenton Thwaites), a mortal, confronts him to save the world and reunite it with his love. This movie showcases an epic battle between a mortal and a god, who fight into the afterlife and the heavens.

3 The Ten Commandments (1956)

The Ten Commandments narrates the ancient story of Moses, who was saved and adopted by the Pharaoh’s daughter from drowning in the Nile River. During this time, Pharaoh Ramses had ordered all male Hebrew infants to be mercilessly killed. Knowing this, Moses’ mother secretly sends him drifting through the river Nile, in hopes that he will survive. Moses is then raised by the royal family and becomes the very being that Ramses has to fight against. This film was directed by Cecil B. DeMille and scored a total of $122.7 million at the box office.

2 The Prince of Egypt (1998)

The Prince of Egypt represents the life and struggles of Moses, the adopted Prince of Egypt. In this film, Moses is raised by the Pharaoh, along with his brother (Ramesses II) until he finds out his true purpose in prophet-hood. He then becomes the representative of the people of Egypt and spreads the word of the true religion. Due to this, he gets exiled by the royal family and becomes a rival for his brother in the pursuit of power. While Moses becomes the leader of the people, Ramesses becomes a dictator who constantly plans to ruin the reputation of Moses. The film clearly represents the myths, stories, and how some choices in life can shape the future.

1 The Mummy (1999)

A scene from The Mummy — Universal Pictures

As a childhood favorite, The Mummy screams Egyptian mythology like no other film. Directed by Stephen Sommers, this film narrates the adventures of Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) and Archeologist Evelyn (Rachel Weisz), who accidentally come across a secret tomb and awaken an evil mummy. The mummified being, Imhotep, resurrects and plots to revive his lover, using Evelyn’s body. This movie remains one of the most popular horror films based on Egyptian mythology, and even scored $416.4 million at the box office.