Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014)
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A museum security guard must travel to London to save the magic of a mysterious artifact before it fades forever.
The story
Security guard Larry Daley is tasked with a desperate mission: traveling to London to restore the Tablet of Ahkmenrah. This ancient artifact is responsible for bringing the museum's exhibits to life, but its magic is beginning to fade, causing the artifacts to act erratically. Accompanied by a young boy and a collection of willing exhibits, Larry must navigate the British Museum to find the tablet's parents and restore its power. As the magic wanes, the group faces a race against time to ensure the artifacts do not become permanently lifeless, all while dealing with the complications of a crumbling magical seal and a quest for restoration.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1938, the Tablet of Ahkmenrah was discovered in Egypt, but locals warned that removing it would bring 'the end.' Seventy-six years later, Larry Daley, a museum guard in New York, notices the tablet is corroding, causing the exhibits to behave wildly. To save them, he travels to London with his son Nick and the mummy Ahkmenrah. They are joined by several American exhibits and a wax figure of Sir Lancelot. As the tablet's power fails, the artifacts begin to stiffen and lose their memories. They eventually find Ahkmenrah's parents at the British Museum and learn the tablet's power can be restored by moonlight. After a detour involving Lancelot and a misunderstanding of Camelot, the group successfully restores the tablet. The American artifacts decide to stay in London with Ahkmenrah, and Larry eventually leaves the museum for a new life as a teacher, while the magic continues to endure.
- First release year
- 2014
- Runtime (minutes)
- 98
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Shawn Levy
- Writers
- David Guion · screenplay; Michael Handelman · screenplay; Mark Friedman · story; David Guion · story; Michael Handelman · story
- Cast and characters
- Ben Stiller · Larry Daley; Ben Stiller · Laaa; Rami Malek · Ahkmenrah; Dan Stevens · Sir Lancelot; Robin Williams · Theodore Roosevelt; Robin Williams · Garuda; Owen Wilson · Jedediah; Steve Coogan · Octavius; Rebel Wilson · Tilly; Skyler Gisondo · Nick Daley; Ben Kingsley · Merenkahre; Ricky Gervais · Dr. Leslie McPhee
- Genres
- fantasy; comedy
- Themes
- legacy; sacrifice; family
- Tone and mood
- whimsical; adventurous
- Premise and plot tags
- time-travel; fantasy; adventure
- Franchise connections
- Night at the Museum
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its visual effects and sense of adventure while others criticized its script and reliance on established tropes.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 4.9 · scale: 10 · review count: 115; Metacritic · score: 47 · scale: 100 · review count: 33
- Production trivia
- The film features the final performances of Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney.; The film was released alongside the movie '_Annie_'.; The film was the lowest-grossing film in the series.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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