20 Years Later Night at the Museum Finds a New Streaming Home

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In 2006, Ben Stiller began starring in the Night at the Museum film series, which revolves around the adventures that happen inside a museum after it closes for the night. Stiller played the night watchman, Larry Daley, in the series, and now, twenty years later, the films are available on a new streaming platform.

Starting February 1st, all three Night at the Museum films – including Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) and Secret of the Tomb (2014) – will be available on Netflix. The original trilogy earned over $1.3 billion globally and led to a 2022 animated sequel, Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again, though Ben Stiller didn’t appear in that one.

Shawn Levy directed all three Night at the Museum movies, and he’s also the director of the 2024 film Deadpool & Wolverine. The original Night at the Museum featured Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Ricky Gervais, Dick Van Dyke, Robin Williams, Mickey Rooney, and Rami Malek. In the film, Stiller plays Larry Daley, a night watchman who discovers that the exhibits at the natural history museum – from animals to historical figures like President Teddy Roosevelt (played by Williams) – come to life each night after the museum closes, thanks to an ancient Egyptian curse.

The movie series is adapted from Milan Trenc’s beloved 1993 children’s book. The first films were written by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon, who are also known for their work on Reno 911. David Guion, Michael Handelman, and Mark Friedman wrote the 2014 installment.

What does the Future Hold for the Night at the Museum Franchise?

In July 2025, 20th Century Studios revealed plans for a fresh take on the Night at the Museum series, with Levy’s 21 Laps Entertainment handling development. Tripper Clancy, known for Die Hart, is writing the script. This reboot won’t include any of the original actors; it will tell a completely new story with a new cast of characters, all set within the museum.

Shawn Levy will produce the new project through his company, 21 Laps, alongside Dan Levine and Emily Morris. They haven’t announced a director yet. Levy is also directing a new Star Wars movie, Star Wars: Starfighter, featuring Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth, scheduled for release on May 28, 2027.

The original Night at the Museum trilogy will land on Netflix on Feb. 1.

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2026-01-18 20:11