Buzz
1. The Ark of the Covenant
The plot of the movie The Ark of the Covenant follows an expedition to find a priceless artifact—a mirror that holds the engraved Ten Commandments, a mission authorized by the US government. Along the way, the team must face Nazi soldiers who are also after the artifact.
The film successfully recreates the atmosphere of Ancient Egypt, thanks to the masterful direction of Steven Spielberg. The thrilling experience of deciphering ancient scripts, overcoming deadly traps set by the ancients, and the chase between explorers and tomb robbers makes this movie an exciting adventure for any archaeology enthusiast.
Details:
- Release Date: 1981
- Director: Steven Spielberg
2. Battle Against the Pharaoh
The film Battle Against the Pharaoh will captivate you, especially with the involvement of the "Dark Knight" himself, Christian Bale. As you watch, you'll be immersed in a comprehensive view of Ancient Egypt, with meticulously crafted costumes and set designs that showcase the grandeur of the period.
Moreover, the special effects and action sequences are compelling, particularly the battlefield scenes, all skillfully directed by Ridley Scott. The high quality of the visuals in Battle Against the Pharaoh remains impressive and undeniably successful to this day.
Details:
- Release Date: December 12, 2014 (Vietnam)
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Producers: Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer, Mark Huffam
3. Egypt's Emperor – Tut
Tutankhamun was a Pharaoh of Egypt from the 18th Dynasty, ruling approximately between 1332–1323 BCE (according to conventional dating), during the New Kingdom period of Ancient Egyptian history. Although not many may know about the youngest Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, Tutankhamun, if you are passionate about Egyptian history, you surely won't miss the film Egypt's Emperor – Tut, which explores the life of this young ruler.
The movie features prominent actors like Ben Kingsley and Avan Jogia, and presents a vivid portrayal of Tutankhamun's life through grand scenes and accurate depictions of ancient Egyptian culture.
Details:
- Release Year: 2015
- Country: USA - Europe
- Director: David Von Ancken
- Cast: Ben Kingsley, Sibylla Deen
- Genre: War Film
4. The Mystery of the Pyramid
The Mystery of the Pyramid is a classic film that delves into the secrets of Ancient Egyptian civilization. A group of explorers accidentally uncovers a pyramid peak in the vast desert. Enthralled by this mysterious discovery, they decide to venture deeper into the pyramid. However, disaster strikes as strange creatures appear, attacking the expedition team.
The pyramid, a place of unsolved mysteries and no escape, becomes the center of their perilous journey. The movie follows the team as they excavate a three-sided pyramid. What begins as an exciting adventure soon turns deadly, as each member of the team faces the consequences of their reckless actions.
Details:
- Release Year: 2015
- Director: David von Ancken
5. The Scorpion King
The film The Scorpion King is set more than 5,000 years ago in the ancient city of Gomorrah, located in the Middle East. The city lives in fear and submission under the rule of Memnon (Steven Brand), a tyrant who governs through violence. With the ambition to become a legendary king, Memnon plots to conquer the desert tribes surrounding his city.
The ruthless dictator continuously wins in battle, aided by his extraordinary prophet, Cassandra, who has the ability to foresee the future. With Cassandra's help, Memnon's territory expands at an astonishing rate.
Details:
- Release Date: April 17, 2002 (USA)
- Director: Chuck Russell
- Writers: Stephen Sommers, Jonathan Hales
6. Gods of Egypt
Gods of Egypt tells the story of the ancient Egyptian gods, focusing on the vengeful quest of Thwaites against the evil god Set. Horus, the eagle god and the mightiest of all the gods, is depicted with an imposing appearance.
In an epic battle for humanity's survival, an unlikely hero embarks on a perilous adventure to rescue his true love. Meanwhile, the dark god Set casts a shadow over all of Egypt. To restore the light, the god Horus entrusts the brave mortal Bek with the hope that he will help bring victory back to Egypt.
Details:
- Release Date: February 26, 2016 (Vietnam)
- Director: Alex Proyas
7. The Mummy 2017
The film tells the story of two army sergeants and an archaeologist who accidentally uncover a tomb deep beneath the desert. When the coffin is moved and the mummy is awakened, it unleashes a series of horrific events that threaten humanity.
The Mummy 2017 from Universal Pictures is a complete reboot. It marks the exciting beginning of the “Dark Universe” franchise, focusing on monsters and dark characters, a project Universal has been developing to rival Marvel’s superhero cinematic universe. The film stars Tom Cruise in the lead role, with Sofia Boutella portraying the “beautiful mummy.”
Details:
- Release Year: 2017 (Brazil)
- Director: Alex Kurtzman
- Writers: Jon Spaihts, Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet
8. The Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec
The story follows Adèle, a writer who embarks on an adventurous journey to find someone capable of saving her sister, who is in a coma after a terrible accident. She believes that ancient Egypt's advanced medical knowledge could hold the key, and so her quest leads her there. What follows is a thrilling tale of mummies and dinosaurs coming back to life after centuries of sleep.
With stunning visual effects that create suspense from start to finish, this is one of the must-see films set in ancient Egypt.
Details:
- Release Year: 2010
- Director: Luc Besson
- Writers: Luc Besson, Jacques Tardi
9. The Prince of Egypt
The Prince of Egypt is an epic biblical musical animated film and the first animated feature produced by DreamWorks. Based on the Book of Exodus, the film tells the story of Prince Moses, an Egyptian prince who leads his people, the Jews, out of slavery in Egypt.
In ancient Egypt, Pharaoh Seti orders the drowning of all Jewish infants in the Nile River to feed the crocodiles. In desperation, a mother places her baby son in a basket and sets him adrift on the river, leaving his fate to God. The basket drifts into the royal palace, where it is discovered and adopted by the Queen. The child grows up to become Prince Moses (voiced by Val Kilmer), living a life of luxury beside his adoptive brother, Prince Ramses (voiced by Ralph Fiennes). Moses is adventurous and carefree, while Ramses is cautious and reserved. Moses cherishes his brother and always tries to protect him from the wrath of their father, the Pharaoh.
Details:
- Release Date: December 16, 1998 (Belgium)
- Directors: Brenda Chapman, Simon Wells, Steve Hickner
The Mummy is a captivating film about ancient Egypt that has drawn countless viewers, including two versions: The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns (2001). Not only did it leave a lasting impression, but it also propelled the career of the charming actor Brendan Fraser into stardom.
Both films tell different stories, yet share the same theme: the adventure of Evelyn, a passionate archaeologist, and her brother Jonathan. Together, they embark on a mysterious expedition to the land of the pyramids, guided by the adventurer Rick. Their quest to uncover the secrets of the mummy of High Priest Imhotep inadvertently brings him back to life, sparking a battle to return the resurrected corpse to the desert sands.
Details:
- Release Date: April 16, 1999 (Portugal)
- Director: Stephen Sommers
- Writers: Stephen Sommers, Nina Wilcox Putnam, John L. Balderston, Kevin Jarre, Lloyd Fonvielle, Richard Schayer
11. The Seventh Scroll
The Seventh Scroll is considered one of the finest films about ancient Egypt, authentically portraying the life, costumes, and mysterious curses of the time, along with the supreme power that evokes fear in all who encounter it. The movie is based on two novels by Wilbur Smith: The God of the River and The Seventh Papyrus.
The plot follows the birth of the queen’s son, Tanus, a courageous warrior. He is placed in a basket and sent adrift on the Nile by the queen’s loyal followers. Five thousand years later, renowned archaeologist Duraid al Simma and his wife Royan discover the tomb of Queen Lostris, along with ten papyrus scrolls resembling a diary. Among them, the seventh scroll serves as a map to the legendary treasure and the lost tomb of Pharaoh Mamose.
Details:
- Release Date: 1999
- Director: Kevin Connor
12. Queen Cleopatra
Queen Cleopatra earned numerous prestigious awards and is considered one of the greatest films about ancient Egypt. It was once the highest-grossing film of the year, yet despite its success, it ultimately failed to recoup its massive production costs.
To this day, no film about Egypt has matched the grandeur and scale of Queen Cleopatra, with its elaborate set designs, costumes, and impressive spectacle. The film featured a staggering 26,000 costumes, including 65 specifically created for Elizabeth Taylor. Some of the costumes were even crafted using 24-karat gold leaf, adding to the opulence and splendor of ancient Egypt's golden age.
Details:
- Release Date: June 12, 1963
- Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Writers: Carlo Mario Franzero, Sidney Buchman, Ben Hecht, Ranald MacDougall, Joseph L. Mankiewicz
