10 Terrible Threequels That Ruined A GREAT Trilogy
4. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
![Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Emperor](https://d2thvodm3xyo6j.cloudfront.net/media/2024/07/6a7d5f04abf937cf8bf3009ed1c51315-600x338.webp)
Brendan Fraser's The Mummy trilogy got so damn close to being a thrilling triumvirate of giddy action-adventure popcorn flicks.
The first two were propelled forward by the chemistry between Fraser and Rachel Weisz, Arnold Vosloo's villainous performance, and a glut of glossy, globe-trotting action.
The wheels well and truly came off the enterprise with the slightly belated third entry, however, as The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor stripped away much of the fun of its predecessors, feeling more like an obligation than a rip-roaring good time.
First and foremost, Weisz's decision not to return in the role of Evelyn went down like a lead balloon, and though Maria Bello is a plenty talented actress, her rendition of the character didn't feel even remotely like the same person.
Elsewhere the VFX were woeful, the script gave Jet Li's titular villain frustratingly little to do, and almost all the charm of the two prior movies was totally absent.
A depressing end to a fun series, and almost bad enough to make you wish that Fraser and Weisz reunited for a legacy sequel to wash the bad taste away. Almost.