Common Sense Media Review
Effects-driven family adventure with cartoon violence.
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Night at the Museum
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 42 parent reviews
Parents say that while the film offers a lighthearted and entertaining experience for children, it may also contain some intense scenes and inappropriate language that might not be suitable for younger audiences. Many appreciate its humorous historical elements and positive messages about family, but caution that certain violent or scary moments could be troubling for sensitive kids.
- lighthearted fun
- family entertainment
- intense scenes
- inappropriate language
- historical elements
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 78 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is a fun and adventurous family film with a blend of humor and minimal violence, making it suitable for older kids but potentially scary for younger ones, particularly due to some intense scenes. While the plot is entertaining and introduces historical figures in a creative way, some parents warn about mild language and certain moments that may be unsettling for very young viewers.
- funny family film
- suitable for older kids
- minimal violence
- mild language
- some scary scenes
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, divorced dad Larry (Ben Stiller) needs to get a job to maintain contact with and provide some level of stability for his 10-year-old son, Nicky (Jake Cherry). To that end, Larry applies for a night guard position at New York's Museum of Natural History, a job he believes will be "ordinary." So he doesn't really listen when retiring security guards Cecil (Dick Van Dyke), Reginald (Bill Cobbs), and Gus (Mickey Rooney) advise him to read their handwritten instruction manual and follow the steps exactly and in order. When Larry falls asleep on his first night, he wakes to find that an amazing change has occurred: The exhibits have come to life! The next few nights offer more of the same, with a deepening relationship between Larry and the historical figure to whom he feels a particular affinity: Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams). Not only must Larry find a way to bring the nightly chaos under control, but he must also stop thieves from stealing treasure from the museum.
Is It Any Good?
Mostly cute if often frantic, this family-friendly movie runs out of story early. Though the individual creatures can be entertaining, Night at the Museum is repetitive and too invested in its silly explanation of how the coming-to-life phenomenon came about (something about an Egyptian pharaoh's tablet). Instead, the film feels like a series of over-the-top episodes, as Larry encounters one silly living exhibit after another in ways that might entertain kids but keep the stakes low and uncomplicated.
The movie makes a cursory case for the significance of the "first working mother" and Lewis and Clark's local guide, Sacajawea (Mizuo Peck), even though—stuck behind a soundproof glass exhibit—she's unable to speak or hear the action for much of the film. And it even promotes reading, as Larry researches all his new charges in a bookstore (apparently in one day). Entertaining as it is, though, Night at the Museum falls short of "greatness" ... not that kids will care.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the message behind all of the fancy effects in Night at the Museum. Why is it important to pursue your dreams—and to learn, read books, and discuss ideas as you do so?
How is Larry inspired by his new friends to go after his dreams?
Does Larry's relationship with his son seem realistic to you? Who seems more grown-up of the two? Does that change over the course of the movie?
Talk to your kids about how these museum exhibits depict global cultures. Do they seem realistic, or are they based in stereotype? Does the movie critique these generalizations, or does it reinforce them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 22, 2006
- On DVD or streaming : April 24, 2007
- Cast : Ben Stiller , Carla Gugino , Robin Williams
- Director : Shawn Levy
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy ( Magic )
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild action, language and brief rude humor
- Award : Kids' Choice Award
- Last updated : April 11, 2026
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