Mummies (2023) Plot Summary, Ending Explained & Timeline

Thut, portrayed by Joe Thomas, is no ordinary Egyptian mummy—he’s a chariot racer grappling with severe post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from a tumultuous crash that ultimately forced him into an early retirement from the adrenaline-fueled sport. Struggling with his new life, Thut is adamantly opposed to the idea of marriage, viewing it as a chains that would bind him to a single partner for all eternity, especially considering that mummies dwell forever in the enigmatic city of the Underworld.

In parallel to Thut’s turmoil, we meet explorer Lord Sylvester Carnaby, acted by Hugh Bonneville, who is on a quest to unearth the legendary tomb of Princess Nefer, characterized by the enchanting Eleanor Tomlinson. Upon discovering Nefer’s tomb, Carnaby is baffled to find the sarcophagus devoid of its royal occupant. He explores the inscriptions in her chamber, leading him to clues about the city of the Underworld—a realm where mummies reside after their mummification process is completed. Driven by curiosity, Carnaby investigates a hole in Nefer’s sarcophagus, beginning a thrilling saga that intertwines their destinies.

Everything changes for Thut when fate brings him face-to-face with Nefer, who nearly collides with him while driving her chariot. Their fiery exchange leads Nefer to retreat back to her lavish palace, where she openly defies the Pharaoh, played by Sean Bean, a ruler who dismisses singing as a trivial pursuit beneath the dignity of royalty. As a result of the Pharaoh’s insistence, he unleashes a phoenix to find a suitable suitor for Nefer. However, this legendary bird meets an unforeseen fate when it gets struck by Sekhem’s boomerang, Thut’s younger brother and a skilled thrower, which leaves the Pharaoh believing the magical creature has chosen Thut as Nefer’s destined husband.

With a marriage announcement looming, Thut finds himself utterly bewildered as he cherishes his bachelor lifestyle. Unwilling to refuse such a decree, he reluctantly accepts the impending nuptials, knowing well that the repercussions for defiance are incredibly dire—tongue removal and eye gouging! To cement their impending union, Thut is entrusted with a Royal Ring that he must safeguard until their wedding day, which looms unsettlingly close.

Meanwhile, in the mystifying city of the Underworld, whose day-night cycles are manipulated by unseen operators, Carnaby begins to dig deeper, believing he is on the verge of uncovering the secrets of this ancient civilization. He sends a drone into the lavish underground city, which soon returns with the very ring that Thut had been given, sparking panic in Thut’s mind about the theft and the intentions of the living.

In a twist of fate, Thut, Sekhem, and a determined Nefer join forces, leaving the safety of the Underworld to confront the complications and challenges presented by the life above. They manage to infiltrate Carnaby’s camp, unwittingly thrown in the chaos of a world that is as bewildering as it is bright and full of humans, particularly as they hide within the transport vehicles bound for London.

Here, they navigate the pitfalls of modern life, where Thut mistakenly believes they are in Rome and struggles to conceal their undead nature from the piercing sunlight. The trio accidentally end up in a musical play about Egyptian culture, leading Nefer to seize the opportunity to perform when she spots the ring she seeks in another actor’s possession. Although that ring turns out to be a fake, the magic of her voice captures the audience, including Carnaby, who then realizes the precious jewel Nefer is after.

As Carnaby pursues them in a frenzied story full of both comedic and harrowing moments—threats from henchmen including Danny and Dennys, played by Dan Starkey, and attempts to evade capture—Nefer’s aspirations are ignited by the allure of modern fame, seeking a music career detached from her upcoming marriage. In a powerful moment, amidst all the chaos, she finds a voice that reverberates through the social media sphere, amassing millions of followers in the blink of an eye.

However, Carnaby’s determination reaches a crescendo when he kidnaps Nefer, trapping her in a museum exhibit that he plans to showcase as his finest discovery. Thut’s heroic journey takes a twist as he aims to rescue Nefer, only to find himself ensnared by Carnaby’s traps as well. But Sekhem, ever the loyal brother, strategizes and enables the duo to escape, albeit reeling from the effects of a sedative.

As they tumble into a life beyond the mundane—traveling underground and above—their bond deepens, leading to significant moments of vulnerability. In a moment of truth on their flight back home, Thut bumbles into confessions that reveal his true fears, while the foreboding shadow of Carnaby looms every closer as he trails them into the Underworld, bent on pillaging its riches.

With an epic confrontation on the horizon, Thut finds the courage he never knew he could muster, summoning whatever strength he has left to protect his newfound love and others left unguarded. Their climactic struggle against Carnaby’s excavator unveils a battle of wills, and with a clever strategic maneuver, Thut pushes Nefer’s chariot to safety while daringly clashing with Carnaby.

Returning to the Underworld, Thut emerges with the storied ring in hand. In a moment tinged with both suspense and romance, he boldly proposes to Nefer, cementing their bond and finally finding solace in the marriage he once viewed as an eternal prison. Surrounded by friends and family, they celebrate a lavish wedding, a fitting conclusion to an incredible journey that transformed not just their lives but the very essence of what it means to love boldly, even across worlds.