The Mummy Returns was the end of an era that superhero movies killed
The Mummy Returns, released in May 2001, launched a 25-year period where the summer blockbuster season’s most prestigious opening slot wasn’t exclusively claimed by superhero films. This adventure sequel exemplified an era when major studios could greenlight high-budget action and fantasy franchises to command May’s prime release date without comic book source material.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Hollywood’s May opening weekends showcased diverse blockbusters: Van Helsing (2004), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Mission: Impossible III (2006), and more recently The Fall Guy (2024). Each represented substantial studio investments in non-superhero properties, suggesting multiple genres could compete for summer’s biggest launch window.
However, the article frames The Mummy Returns as marking the beginning of the end rather than an era’s start. While not every May opening fell to Marvel characters specifically, the rise of superhero filmmaking fundamentally reshaped Hollywood’s blockbuster economics. The genre’s box office dominance concentrated resources and premium release dates, squeezing space for alternative action and adventure franchises.
By 2026, the landscape reflects this shift starkly. The Devil Wears Prada 2 now occupies May’s opening weekend—celebrated as an exception to superhero dominance. Superhero movies didn’t simply add another genre to summer; they restructured which properties receive major studio backing, creative resources, and premium positioning, effectively ending the era when diverse action franchises could consistently compete for May’s opening slot.