Night at the Museum movies in order Night at the Museum Marathon
Page Last Modified:
23 December 2025
Most Recent Release:
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb - 2014
Total Runtime:
311 Minutes
Total Items:
3
Average User Score:
(6.3)Night at the Museum movies in order
Sometimes, you just want a movie night that's like a rollercoaster ride. This family fantasy-comedy franchise mixes slapstick with history, magic with miniature cowboys, and Ben Stiller with a hyperactive monkey. Of course, once you start watching them, you'll want to watch them in the right order, especially with a magical tablet that brings everything to life. Don't worry, we've got the perfect sequence lined up for you, and we'll give you the lowdown on what to expect from each film, spoiler-free. Grab your popcorn and get your friends together on the couch, and let the first movie start... now.
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1
Night at the Museum Movie 108 min. 2006Chaos reigns at the natural history museum when night watchman Larry Daley accidentally stirs up an ancient curse, awakening Attila the Hun, an army of gladiators, a Tyrannosaurus rex and other exhibits.USER SCORE 7 -
2
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Movie 105 min. 2009Hapless museum night watchman Larry Daley must help his living, breathing exhibit friends out of a pickle now that they've been transferred to the archives at the Smithsonian Institution. Larry's (mis)adventures this time include close encounters with Amelia Earhart, Abe Lincoln and Ivan the Terrible.USER SCORE 6 -
3
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb Movie 98 min. 2014When the magic powers of The Tablet of Ahkmenrah begin to die out, Larry Daley spans the globe, uniting favorite and new characters while embarking on an epic quest to save the magic before it is gone forever.USER SCORE 6
Night at the Museum (2006)
The first film in the Night at the Museum franchise is your gateway into this magical, chaotic world where history comes alive as soon as the sun sets. Shawn Levy directed it, and it's got just the right mix of comedy, adventure, and heart. We meet Ben Stiller as Larry Daley, a well-meaning but somewhat lost father who lands a night job at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Sounds boring? Think again. As the sun sets, the whole museum suddenly comes to life. With Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt, Owen Wilson as Jedediah, and Steve Coogan as Octavius, their little rivalry is pure gold. This film sets the tone for everything that follows. The magical tablet of Ahkmenrah is presented as the artifact that sets everything in motion, and trust us, it will cause plenty of chaos. Also, Crystal the Monkey is amazing in Dexter. It's the perfect first film to get you ready for a binge.
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)
Your marathon continues with a significant scale-up. Bye bye, New York. Hello, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. This sequel amps everything up a notch: more action, more characters, and a new museum filled with historical figures that come to life once it gets dark. After the events of the first film, the magical adventure moves to a bigger setting with more story elements. Enter Hank Azaria as Kahmunrah, a villain with a flair for drama who's delightfully over-the-top. And then there's Amelia Earhart. Jedediah and Octavius really pick up steam here, and the whole thing feels like a mix of slapstick and adventure. It's the perfect follow-up film because it picks up right where the last one left off, making everything just a bit more epic.
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
The trilogy ends with a trip to London, where the magic of the tablet starts to fade, causing chaos in a new museum location. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb takes the story to the British Museum, giving the franchise a worthy, emotional, and hilarious finale. Dan Stevens as Sir Lancelot brings a lot of Arthurian knightly energy to the role (and yes, his scenes are wonderfully over-the-top), while Rebel Wilson as Tilly injects British humor. But this film is also about closure: Larry's father-son story arc gets more complex, and there's a surprisingly tender side to this final night. Fans of Robin Williams' Teddy Roosevelt will especially appreciate this film. Without giving away any spoilers, his scenes here are pretty iconic and moving. It's a worthy conclusion that honors the magic, the characters, and the journey you've taken with them. Bonus points for the miniature cowboy and Roman, who deliver one of the funniest and most heroic moments of the series.