Night at the Museum (franchise)

Night at the Museum is an American media franchise of fantasy-comedy films based on the 1993 children's book by Milan Trenc, directed by Shawn Levy and written by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon. Starring Ben Stiller as a museum night security guard named Larry Daley, the first three films also star an ensemble cast featuring Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais, Steve Coogan, Patrick Gallagher, Rami Malek, Mizuo Peck, Mickey Rooney, Bill Cobbs, Brad Garrett and Dick Van Dyke, while the video game and 4th film feature a recast ensemble of voice actors.

When Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), a divorced father who was having trouble finding a job, applies for a job at the American Museum of Natural History, he is assigned as a night guard. However, a seemingly easy job turns out to be a wild ride when he finds that an ancient spell has caused the exhibits of the museum to come to life.

Three years after the first film, several of the exhibits are transferred to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and Dexter the monkey steals the tablet of Ahkmenrah. Larry must break in and team up with his old friends, and new ally Amelia Earhart, to get it back from Ahkmenrah's resurrected evil older brother Kahmunrah before morning.

Five years after the second film, Larry discovers that the tablet of Ahkmenrah's magic is failing. He and his now-teenage son Nick, along with Teddy Roosevelt, Sacagawea, Jedediah, Octavius, Dexter, Attila the Hun, and a new caveman figure named Laaa (who looks like Larry) travel to the British Museum in London to undo the curse, with the help of Ahkmenrah's parents and the narcissistic Sir Lancelot of Camelot, before the tablet's magic disappears forever.

The story follows Nick Daley, the teenage son of Larry Daley (the former night guard of the American Museum of Natural History), as he takes on the role of night watchman at the museum. Like his father, Nick quickly discovers that the exhibits come to life at night thanks to a magical Egyptian tablet.

Nick struggles with anxiety and self-doubt but is determined to prove himself. His fears are put to the test when Kahmunrah, the villainous pharaoh from Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, escapes his underground tomb. Kahmunrah has plans to unleash the Egyptian underworld and take over the world with an army of the undead. To stop him, Nick teams up with the familiar living exhibits, including Teddy Roosevelt, Sacagawea, Attila the Hun, Laaa the caveman, and Joan of Arc, in a comedic and action-packed adventure. Together, they must prevent Kahmunrah from opening a portal to the underworld and destroying the world.

Thomas Lennon hinted that another film could be developed and expressed interest in doing another live-action film with Ben Stiller. He added that the animated film "opens up a lot of new possibilities".

In July 2025, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that a new live-action Night at the Museum film is in the works. The project is being produced by Shawn Levy's production company, 21 Laps Entertainment. Levy, will serve as a producer alongside Dan Levine and Emily Morris. Tripper Clancy, has been hired to write the screenplay. The film is expected to introduce a new set of characters and historical figures, marking a creative shift from the original films.

The franchise has received mixed reviews from critics.

In April and May 2009, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian – The Video Game, an action-adventure video game adaptation of the feature film of the same name, developed by Amaze Entertainment and Pipeworks Software, was published by Majesco Entertainment to BlackBerry, Wii, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, and Xbox 360. Ben Stiller reprises his role in the film as the voice of Larry Daley.

In April 2020, Alan Menken revealed that he is working as lyricist and composer for a stage musical adaptation of Night at the Museum. On September 11, 2020, Night at the Museum director Shawn Levy revealed that he is also working on the musical, which has been in development for "a year and a half" by that point. Work on the musical had to be done remotely through Zoom due to COVID.

A Night at the Museum: Midnight Mayhem ride is at Genting SkyWorlds.

• List of films featuring dinosaurs

• List of films featuring miniature people

• The Night at the Museum on Internet Archive

• Night at the Museum: The Junior Novelization on Internet Archive

• Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: The Junior Novelization on Internet Archive

• Nick's Tales: Night of the Dragons on Internet Archive

• Nick's Tales: Night of the Giants on Internet Archive

• Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb: The Junior Novelization on Internet Archive