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The Scorpion King

Play trailer 1:41 Poster for The Scorpion King PG-13 2002 1h 31m Adventure Action Fantasy Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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40% Tomatometer 134 Reviews 37% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Inspired by the legendary Egyptian warrior, "The Scorpion King" is set 5000 years ago in the notorious city of Gomorrah, where an evil ruler is determined to lay waste to all the nomadic peoples of the desert. The few remaining tribes, never natural allies, have to unite or perish. Knowing their enemy relies on the visions of a sorcerer, they hire a skilled assassin, Mathayus (Dwayne Johnson), to eliminate the visionary.
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The Scorpion King

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Critics Consensus

Action adventure doesn't get much cheesier than The Scorpion King.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media On the silly popcorn scale, it works pretty well. Rated: 3/5 Dec 29, 2010 Full Review Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune Another grandiose, hyperactive crock, full of lame jokes and gorgeous, stupefying images. Rated: 2/4 Jul 20, 2002 Full Review Michael Rechtshaffen The Hollywood Reporter All the necessary exposition prevents the picture from rising above your generic sand 'n' sandal adventure. Apr 24, 2002 Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) Just as much big, dumb fun as an A-grade B-movie should be. Rated: 3/5 Sep 11, 2020 Full Review Sean Collier Box Office Prophets The effects are terrible, the comedy falls flat and the story is an utter mess. Rated: 2/10 Jul 27, 2020 Full Review Tim Brayton Alternate Ending It's hard to follow and doesn't reward the effort of following it. It's not good drama, and it's not good spectacle. Rated: 1/5 Aug 26, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Noah H One of the best action movies of the 2000s. Epic, energetic action and kick-ass music. Highly recommend. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/22/25 Full Review Oliver J Critics Consensus: Fueled by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s undeniable screen presence, The Scorpion King turns sword-and-sand adventure into pure popcorn fun. It’s not deep, but it’s bold, brawny, and unapologetically entertaining. Review: Spinning off from The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King trades ancient curses for bare-knuckle heroics, delivering a muscular, mythic romp that feels like a throwback to the pulpy action films of the ’80s. Directed by Chuck Russell, the film leans into spectacle and swagger, proving that Dwayne Johnson’s charisma was destined for the big screen. Johnson’s portrayal of Mathayus—the warrior destined to become the Scorpion King—is a perfect blend of physical power and charm. He commands every frame, grounding the over-the-top action with enough humanity and humor to make the character more than just another sword-swinging brute. The story is straightforward but satisfying: betrayal, revenge, and destiny unfold across a desert kingdom brought to life with sweeping vistas and practical stunts. While the dialogue occasionally borders on cheesy, the film’s confident tone and energetic pacing make it hard not to enjoy. The mix of mystical elements and high-octane combat gives the movie a mythic edge without bogging it down in exposition. Verdict: The Scorpion King may not reinvent the wheel, but it spins it with flair. A fast-paced, fun, and refreshingly earnest fantasy adventure, it solidified Dwayne Johnson as a true movie star and gave audiences a new hero to root for in the sands of legend. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/06/25 Full Review Pedro Henrique C The Scorpion King (2002) is not a perfect film, in the central story there are several defects and its terrible script fails to deliver a good approach. However, it's a movie that starts cheesy and ends even cheesier lol, but I liked this cheesiness. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/03/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 31 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Some Sensuality and Intense Action Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $90,300,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/26/25 Full Review MexiCanadian 0 2000's action and adventure that you don't get these days. Early in the Rocks career that he wasn't an unstoppable good guy coasting on his fame. He actually put some work into acting in those early days. Super fun and cheesy. Just an early 2000s classic IMO. Miss these movies!!! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/07/25 Full Review Thomas J How can anyone not like this movie? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/02/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Scorpion King

The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Hail to the King The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Hail to the King 2:59 The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Soldiers in the Cave The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Soldiers in the Cave 3:10 The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Cobra Roulette The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Cobra Roulette 2:53 The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Capturing the Sorceress The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Capturing the Sorceress 3:20 The Scorpion King: Official Clip - The Great Memnon The Scorpion King: Official Clip - The Great Memnon 1:14 The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Fire Ants The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Fire Ants 2:37 The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Punishment for Stealing The Scorpion King: Official Clip - Punishment for Stealing 2:28 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Inspired by the legendary Egyptian warrior, "The Scorpion King" is set 5000 years ago in the notorious city of Gomorrah, where an evil ruler is determined to lay waste to all the nomadic peoples of the desert. The few remaining tribes, never natural allies, have to unite or perish. Knowing their enemy relies on the visions of a sorcerer, they hire a skilled assassin, Mathayus (Dwayne Johnson), to eliminate the visionary.
Director
Chuck Russell
Producer
Sean Daniel, James Jacks, Stephen Sommers, Kevin Misher
Screenwriter
John Hales, Stephen Sommers, Stephen Sommers, William Osborne, David Hayter
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Alphaville Films, Universal Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sensuality|Intense Action Violence)
Genre
Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 19, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 24, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$90.3M
Runtime
1h 31m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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