All 3 Night at the Museum Movies in Order

Night at the Museum is a movie franchise directed by Shawn Levy. This franchise stars Ben Stiller as Larry Daley, the protagonist of the franchise. He got a job as a night guard at the Museum of Natural History. Then one night, the exhibits in the museum came to life, and a roller-coaster of adventure, fun, and danger started following Larry’s life. This franchise consists of several movies, and in this article, you can check how to watch Night at the Museum movies in order.
How many Night at the Museum movies are there?
There is currently three Night at the Museum movies. The first film, Night at the Museum was released in 2006, the second three years later in 2009, and the third one five years after the second one, in 2014. The franchise is centered around Larry Daley, a regular guy who got the job as a night guard in a Museum of Natural History, only to find out that a curse has been cast upon the exhibits in the museum, so they tend to come to life at night.
In the first movie, Larry works as a night guard and becomes familiar with the fact that various ancient and historical characters come to life by night in the museum. Even though he wanted to quit, he realized that he had to protect the museum’s exhibits at any cost. In the second and third installments, Larry has moved in his career, but the adventures with the exhibits keep following him anyway.
Night at the Museum movies in order – at a glance
When the first Night at the Museum movie was released in 2006, the audience gladly welcomed it as it provided light-hearted adventure and fun. Three years later, the sequel hit theaters, and the adventure continued as Larry went on a rescue mission. Several years later, the third installment of the franchise was released, and Larry’s gang was back together, traveling to London. These are Night at the Museum movies in order of their release:
- Night at the Museum ( 2006 )
- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian ( 2009 )
- Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb ( 2014 )
In the first movie, Larry is a night guard at the Museum on Natural History, where he learns about the curse that had struck the exhibits. As they come to life by night, many perils threaten the museum, so Larry decides to help the exhibits in any way he can. In the sequel, Larry is determined to save the exhibits that are being transferred into the Federal Archives at the Smithsonian Institution and replaced with holographic information providers. In the third movie, Larry and the exhibits travel to London to save the day.
What is the best way to watch Night at the Museum movies?
Night at the Museum movies is best enjoyed by watching them in order of release, in my experience. This means starting with the first movie, then watching the second movie, and then the third movie. By watching the movies in this order, you’ll be able to connect more with the characters and the storyline of the movies, which is advisable. However, these movies are perfectly watchable as standalone movies, and you will only miss a little by doing so.
Night at the Museum movies in order by release date
Night at the Museum movies are released as follows:
1. Night at the Museum ( 2006 )
Larry Daley is an ordinary guy who goes on the interview for a job as a new night guard at the Museum on Natural History. Before his first day at work, he was warned that the nights could get somewhat spooky in the museum, but he should not let anything in or out of the museum. When he realizes that everything in the museum comes to life at night he is excited at first but soon realizes that he got himself into kinds of stuff that are way above his paycheck.
2. Night at the Museum: Battle of Smithsonian ( 2009 )
Larry changed his job but came to visit the exhibits one day. Then he finds out that some of the exhibits will be moved to the Federal Archives at the Smithsonian Institution and won’t be able to come alive again. However, the tablet which brings exhibits to life has been stolen by the monkey Dexter and brought to the Smithsonian. So Larry travels there to help them out.
3. Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb ( 2014 )
When the tablet that brings exhibits to life starts having corrosion, the exhibits also start acting funny. Apparently, the magic properties of the tablet are wearing off and the only ones that can fix the tablet are Ahkmenrah’s parents, Merenkahre and Shepseheret. However, they are located in British Museum, so Larry decides to go there, and the group of exhibits decides to come along.
Where to watch Night at the Museum movies?
You can watch all three Night at the Museum movies on Disney Plus.
Do you need to watch Night at the Museum movies in order?
You do not need to watch Night at the Museum movies in order. These movies are perfectly watchable as standalone movies. However, if you watch them in order of their release, you’ll appreciate the relationship between Larry and the exhibits more. So, it would be best if you watched them by their release date. That way, you can connect with the storyline, and the characters will make more sense. But it is not necessary.
Are Night at the Museum movies connected?
Night at the museum movies are connected as the characters are more or less similar in each movie. However, you can watch these movies as standalone movies, nevertheless, as the storyline of each movie is perfectly understandable regardless of other parts of the franchise.
Will there be more Night at the Museum movies?
Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again will be the fourth installment in this franchise and will be released near the end of 2022. The movie will follow Larry’s son, Nick, who is hesitant to become a night guard like his father.