Night at the Museum

In vibrant New York City, Larry Daley, a divorced inventor, struggles with his identity and purpose in life. He faces increasing concern over his influence on his ten-year-old son, Nick, as Nick begins to gravitate towards his mother's fiancé, Don.

Larry feels threatened as Nick invites Don to Career Day at school, signaling Don's encroaching role as a father figure. This compels Larry to seek a way to maintain his importance in his son's life amidst the challenges he faces.

Taking a job as a night security guard at the Museum of Natural History, Larry hopes to find stability. He receives a manual from the outgoing guards, warning him about the importance of keeping a watchful eye over the exhibits.

On his first night, Larry discovers that the museum's exhibits come to life after dark, leading to a hilarious and chaotic series of events. From a Tyrannosaurus skeleton named Rexy to mischievous monkeys, the museum turns into a playground of animated history.

Larry meets Teddy Roosevelt, who explains that the chaos is due to the Golden Tablet of Pharaoh Ahkmenrah, an ancient artifact that brings the exhibits to life. Teddy emphasizes that if the exhibits are not contained by sunrise, they will disintegrate.

As Larry embraces his night shifts, he learns of Teddy's feelings for Sacagawea, who remains encased in glass. This revelation adds another layer to the connection between him and the museum's inhabitants as he navigates his own troubles.

Chaos ensues when the Neanderthals accidentally start a fire inside the museum. Larry scrambles to extinguish the flames while the capuchin monkey Dexter steals his keys, leading to further mayhem and the escape of the Neanderthals.

As dawn approaches, the consequences of the night’s events weigh heavily on Larry when he is unable to maintain control of the exhibits. Dr. McPhee dismisses him from his job after a Neanderthal's run away and subsequent chaos.

Rebecca Hutman, a knowledgeable historian with a keen interest in Sacagawea, discovers Larry's secret about the museum's nighttime happenings. What starts as skepticism turns into support as she seeks to understand the bizarre events Larry faces.

Larry inadvertently allows Nick to activate the Golden Tablet, causing an exhilarating pandemonium in the museum. As exhibits run amok, Larry realizes the gravity of the situation and the need to regain control before it's too late.

In a frantic attempt to reclaim the tablet from the treacherous guards, Larry finds himself locked in the Egyptian room with his allies. With the aid of Ahkmenrah's mummified spirit, they plan an escape amidst the living artifacts.

Larry rallies the museum exhibits together to confront the greedy guards. Through teamwork and clever tactics, they reclaim the Golden Tablet, restoring order and harmony within the museum's hallowed halls.

During the final showdown, Teddy Roosevelt bravely sacrifices himself for Sacagawea, demonstrating selflessness. Miraculously, he survives, bringing a poignant turn of events to their unlikely alliance.

Larry chases down Cecil through Central Park in a thrilling pursuit, where he manages to reclaim the tablet from his duplicitous former colleagues. This chase marks a pivotal moment in Larry’s journey to restore his dignity.

As night falls again, Larry, Nick, and Rebecca gather with the now-friendly exhibits for a festive celebration. The guards, reduced to janitors, find themselves reflecting on their choices while Larry embraces a new chapter with his son.