Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- breezy
- campy
- energetic
- action movie night
- mindless weekend entertainment
What critics said
Critics generally found the film energetic and occasionally amusing but overly formulaic, cheesy, and uneven as action adventure.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mathayus battles Memnon's magical forces across an imagined ancient desert world.
Mathayus is tasked with killing Memnon and ultimately joins the free tribes against his reign.
Dwayne Johnson's Mathayus anchors the film's martial-arts sequences, humor, and heroic appeal.
The action moves through desert terrain, temples, battlefields, and Memnon's impenetrable fortress.
Films like The Scorpion King, and why
The Mummy Returns
shared sword-and-sorcery adventure, ancient desert setting, magical villains, and broad action-comedy tone
300
shared sword-and-sandal spectacle, heroic rebellion against tyranny, and stylized battlefield action
Conan the Barbarian
shared ancient-world fantasy, revenge-driven heroism, and mythic swordplay
The Mummy
shared pulpy adventure, desert exploration, supernatural antagonists, and comedic action energy
Movie Details
- Director
- Chuck Russell
- Release Date
- 2002-04-18
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 5.6 / 10 (3471)
Cast
- Dwayne Johnson
- Steven Brand
- Michael Clarke Duncan
- Kelly Hu
- Bernard Hill
- Grant Heslov
- Peter Facinelli
- Ralf Moeller
- Branscombe Richmond
- Roger Rees
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Scorpion King about?
- A charismatic assassin rallies rival desert tribes against a tyrannical king and his prophetic sorceress in a knowingly pulpy sword-and-sorcery adventure.
- What is The Scorpion King like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Scorpion King as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Scorpion King violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Scorpion King as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Scorpion King?
- Critics generally found the film energetic and occasionally amusing but overly formulaic, cheesy, and uneven as action adventure.
- Which films are like The Scorpion King?
- Films with a similar feel include The Mummy Returns, 300, Conan the Barbarian, and The Mummy.
- How long is The Scorpion King?
- The Scorpion King runs 92 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Scorpion King?
- In United States, The Scorpion King streams on Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel.
