Get advance word on this summer's movie sequels

Sequels make money. Or at least that’s an idea that motivates movie producers to serve up dèjé vu all over again — beginning with this weekend’s ”The Mummy Returns,” followed by ”Dr. Doolittle 2” (June 22), ”American Pie 2” (August 10), and others.

But many of this summer’s sequels are following a precedent setting blockbuster that will be tough to beat. ”Scary Movie 2” is just one example: The original’s $156.8 million gross was the highest ever for its studio, Miramax / Dimension. And returning to a known title comes with other hazards, too, such as finicky audiences. ”People tend to hold a sequel up to greater scrutiny than the original,” says Dan Marks, vice president of ACNielsen. ”Sequels get the edge in marketing. But eventually every movie has to stand on its own.”

Below, EW.com tells you which of this summer’s big sequels have what it takes to measure up to — or maybe outdo — their predecessors.

”The Mummy Returns” (May 4)
THE CAST Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, Dwayne Johnson (a.k.a. The Rock)
THE PAST ”The Mummy” had a $43 million debut weekend in 1999, then gobbled up $155.2 million nationwide.
THE PITCH The original cast — plus a kid — comes back to do battle with the gauzy man from beyond.
FOR IT ”The Mummy Returns” is the first blockbuster of the summer. ”It’s got the market all to itself,” says Gitesh Pandya of boxofficeguru.com. Plus, the film has improved special effects and snazzy trailers that highlight the addition of a much loved WWF star to the cast.
AGAINST IT Hubris. You can never be THAT sure a movie will hit. Then again, who are we to question the wisdom of focus groups?
VERDICT ”The Mummy” is likely to keep on returning. ”It’s going to obliterate everything on the marketplace,” says Robert Bucksbaum, of the box office tracking firm Reel Source.

”Scary Movie 2” (July 4)
DIRECTED BY Keenen Ivory Wayans
THE CAST Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Tori Spelling, Chris Elliot
THE PAST ”Scary Movie”’s $43 million debut shocked industry watchers. ”My jaw dropped when I saw that one,” recalls Pandya. The horror spoof went on to gross $156.8 million domestically, the highest earnings ever for an R rated film until it was surpassed by February’s ”Hannibal.”
THE PITCH The potty mouthed gang returns with a year’s worth of new material (read: cannibal jokes).
FOR IT The film has a lucrative July 4th release date — a time when analysts say many moviegoers might be in the mood for the Wayans’ brand of mindless fun.
AGAINST IT The first film spoofed the ”Scream ” franchise and its infinitely spoofable copycats. ”It was the original gags that everyone bought into,” says Bucksbaum. ”It’s almost impossible to top that.”
VERDICT ”Scary 2”’s numbers won’t be as frighteningly impressive as the original’s.