Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- breezy
- chaotic
- family movie night
- holiday viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed it as a spectacle-filled, family-friendly adventure whose energetic effects and cast appeal are undermined by a shallow story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The central supernatural mechanism brings dinosaurs, historical figures, animals, and other displays to life each night.
Larry’s unemployment and eviction risk are intertwined with Nick’s disappointment, while the museum crisis gives them a shared adventure.
Larry organizes figures including a pharaoh, Genghis Khan, a cowboy, and other exhibits into an unlikely team.
The museum transforms after sunset and the characters must manage the living exhibits before dawn.
Films like Night at the Museum, and why
Jumanji
family-friendly fantasy comedy in which an ordinary protagonist confronts a magical world and escalating nighttime chaos
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
high-concept family adventure combining comedy, spectacular effects, and historical or fantastical figures brought into modern life
Bedtime Stories
warm fish-out-of-water family comedy centered on a parent rebuilding a relationship with a child amid supernatural disruption
The Haunted Mansion
museum-centered fantasy adventure with playful encounters between a contemporary character and animated historical artifacts
Movie Details
- Director
- Shawn Levy
- Release Date
- 2006-12-20
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (11236)
Cast
- Ben Stiller
- Carla Gugino
- Dick Van Dyke
- Mickey Rooney
- Bill Cobbs
- Jake Cherry
- Ricky Gervais
- Robin Williams
- Kim Raver
- Patrick Gallagher
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus, fuboTV, FXNow
- 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 Night at the Museum about?
- An unemployed father finds unexpected purpose when a magical Egyptian artifact awakens a museum’s exhibits after dark.
- What is Night at the Museum like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Night at the Museum as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Night at the Museum violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Night at the Museum as mild.
- What did critics think of Night at the Museum?
- Critics broadly viewed it as a spectacle-filled, family-friendly adventure whose energetic effects and cast appeal are undermined by a shallow story.
- Which films are like Night at the Museum?
- Films with a similar feel include Jumanji, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Bedtime Stories, and The Haunted Mansion.
- How long is Night at the Museum?
- Night at the Museum runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Night at the Museum?
- In United States, Night at the Museum streams on Disney Plus, fuboTV, FXNow.
