Veteran Hollywood actor Brendan Fraser is renowned for his acting range that spans from action and satire to serious dramas. Although he’s proven himself to be an asset in Hollywood, he has not had the greatest experience in the entertainment industry.
From dealing with health issues, losing his mother, an alleged s—– assault, divorce, and more, he’s been through a rollercoaster of emotions throughout his career as an actor. Even though he did endure reportedly difficult times in his life, acting never left him. And neither did he quit on his passion.
Fraser is currently set to reprise his role as Rick O’Connell—the famed archaeologist and pro-Mummy wrangler from the famous The Mummy franchise. Fraser is confirmed to appear alongside his on-screen wife, Rachel Weisz, who plays ‘Evie O’Connell.’
The new movie is slated to release on April 17, 2026, and will also feature John Hannah as Evie’s brother, Jonathan Carnahan. Most details about the plot and exact storyline remain under wraps. However, it is described as a darker and scarier reimagined version of the original adventure storyline.
While we wait for the upcoming movie and Fraser’s performance in it, let’s take a look at some of Fraser’s most popular movies over the years. These have even earned praise on Rotten Tomatoes for their scores.
Gods and Monsters
Gods and Monsters (1998)
Made me realize that Brendan Fraser could really act pic.twitter.com/bjaXNCh7jG
— Sugarpuss O’Shea (@SugarpussOShea1) August 3, 2025
Starting the list strong is Fraser’s highest-rated movie, Gods and Monsters. With a score of 96% from RT, the 1998 movie is described by critics as “spellbinding.” Although Fraser wasn’t the main protagonist, his performance as ‘Clayton Boone’ created quite an impression.
Fraser joined veteran actor Ian McKellen as ‘James Whale,’ a gay film director in need of inspiration. Fraser played a gardener in the movie who would often accompany McKellen’s character, acting as an anchor in their friendship.
Critics from RT claimed that although Fraser wasn’t a lead, he wasn’t “far behind” his co-stars. The performance and semi-fictional movie continue to be a classic Fraser film that is beloved by all.
The Whale
Brendan Fraser’s reaction to the standing ovation for his performance in ‘The Whale’ pic.twitter.com/HlNQ8PxBmz
— Humans Being Wholesome (@UNIVERSE_FEEDS) October 2, 2024
This list wouldn’t be complete without this now-iconic movie, which captivated fans and Hollywood critics. The Whale has become a career-defining film for Fraser because it was perhaps his most complex role yet as an actor.
Fraser played the role of an obese English teacher who aims to improve his strained relationship with his teenage daughter. The movie is filled with emotional and tense moments, which Fraser was able to beautifully capture and present to the audience.
The movie has an RT rating of 64%. Even his colleagues in the entertainment industry greatly praised and appreciated Fraser for his role. So much so that they honored the actor with a six-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival in 2022.
The Mummy (1990)
The Mummy (1999) is peak adventure cinema, elevated by Brendan Fraser’s undeniable charm.
pic.twitter.com/aW63sQvppi https://t.co/QP92zpEokz
— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) May 29, 2025
Another legendary and honorable mention is Fraser’s movie, The Mummy. The very movie whose saga continues to this day became another career-defining film for Fraser.
With a 63% score from RT, this movie doesn’t disappoint, delivering action, adventure, and of course: mummies. And not the bandage-wrapped, zombie-looking ones.
Actual creepy ones whose jaws can open probably as wide as your face and suck the soul out of you. These weren’t messing around. Fraser’s character went on different archaeological quests and uncovered the secrets of the Egyptian world’s mysteries.
The movie has had many spinoffs, including The Scorpion King. But with Fraser, there are currently three parts to the original franchise. The upcoming reboot is set to be the fourth.
Journey to The Center of The Earth
It only took them 48 days to film.
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) pic.twitter.com/PM4I1Zbzvx
— Nostalgic Movie Clips (@oldmovieclips) November 22, 2025
Another beloved adventure movie is the unforgettable Journey to the Center of the Earth, which, as the name suggests, follows the journey of an uncle and his nephew, along with an Icelandic mountain guide, to the Earth’s core.
The movie features glowing hummingbirds, dinosaurs, explosions, and a very active volcano. There are also some heartwarming moments in the movie, but the adventure aspect undoubtedly takes center stage.
This movie has an RT score of 59% and is inspired by the works of famous French science fiction author Jules Verne. While the first movie starred Fraser and the gang, the second movie was inspired by another of his books, The Mysterious Island, and features Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Josh Hutcherson (Fraser’s nephew in the movie), among others. Hutcherson’s role in the second movie is what connects the two movies, apart from them being adventures from Verne’s novels.
George of The Jungle
When Brendan Fraser didn’t return for the George of the Jungle sequel, the new George even joked on camera, “Me new George. Studio too cheap to pay Brendan Fraser.”
Fraser later confirmed the studio’s offer was far below what he expected. pic.twitter.com/IrwFCUBwSb
— Kalshi Culture (@Kalshi_Culture) November 26, 2025
Another franchise of Fraser’s fondly remembered by his fans is George of the Jungle. The actor only appeared in the first of the three movies because, as the actor from the third movie quoted, “Studio too cheap to pay Brandon Fraser.”
The satirical yet romantic adventure movie can be compared to Tarzan, but with humor and a jumpy elephant, minus the many apes. Fraser’s rendition of ‘George’ is still praised by fans and critics alike.
This movie has an RT score of 56% and features different kinds of wildlife, following the journey of a jungle-grown boy who finds love in a woman from London.
With a new movie fast approaching, what version of Fraser’s character will fans get to see? Will we get the same old dashing George, who can put his bare hand into a suspicious-looking hole that, when removed, leaves you with just bones? Or are we getting a darker, more serious version of him?
