Published May 4, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT At the time, The Mummy Returns was just another more-is-more sequel; now it looks like the last big pre-superhero May-kickoff blockbuster Image: Universal/Everett Collection Picture this: It's the first weekend in May and you head to your local theater to check out a highly anticipated sequel that features fantastic outfits and the reawakening of an ancient evil. In 2026, that movie is The Devil Wears Prada 2 , but 25 years ago, a very different film filled that exact same slot while managing to accomplish something remarkably similar: a blockbuster movie to kick off the summer that's completely devoid of superheroes. It’s not that every single first May weekend between 2001 and 2026 was dominated by a Marvel character. This unofficial summer-movie-season kickoff release slot has gone to Van Helsing (2004), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Mission: Impossible III (2006), and, more recently, The Fall Guy (2024).…