A newly recruited night security guard at the Museum of Natural History discovers that an ancient curse causes the animals and exhibits on display to come to life and wreak havoc.
In New York, unemployed and divorced Larry Daley is a complete loser. His son Nick is very disappointed with his father who is going to be evicted. Larry accepts the job of night watchman in the Museum of Natural History and takes the place of three old security guards that have just retired in order to raise some money and pay his bills. On his first shift, Larry soon realizes that everything at the museum is not as it seems as the statues begin to come to life after the sun sets. The Museum transforms into complete chaos with the inexperienced Larry in charge as he learns that an old Egyptian stone that came to the Museum in 1950 brings these statues to life until dawn. When Larry brings his son to spend a night with him, the three old guards break into the Museum to try to steal the magical stone. Larry organizes all the historic characters to help him stop the criminals and save the museum.
Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Visitors to the real American Museum of Natural History increased by 20% during the holiday season following this movie's opening.
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Goofs
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers):
Dexter the Capuchin monkey "speaks" like a chimpanzee.
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Quotes
[first lines]
Taxi Driver:
[as Larry walks into the street]
Hey, watch it! See more »
Crazy Credits
During the film's end credit sequence, two scenes featuring the characters
played by Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs appear on the side.
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