Night At The Museum: Surprisingly Successful Despite Poor Reviews

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Larry (Ben Stiller) and Dr. McPhee (Ricky Gervais) smiling together in Night at the Museum.

Published Feb 9, 2026, 7:00 PM EST

Zach Moser is a Philadelphia native who loves films, television, books, and any and all media he can get his hands on. Zach has had articles published on satirical sites such as Points In Case, Slackjaw, and McSweeney's.

Night at the Museum wasn't exactly a critical darling when it premiered, but Ben Stiller's comedy movie has been rising in the Netflix rankings despite the poor reception. Night at the Museum in 2006 was Stiller's introduction to a new, younger audience as Larry Daley, a night watchman at New York's American Museum of Natural History.

When Larry learns the exhibits at his museum come to life at night, he enlists the help of his young son, Nick (Jake Cherry), and some history books, to learn how to protect and mollify everything from Teddy Roosevelt to an Easter Island head statue. Though critics were harsh, the franchise is surprisingly successful.

Night At The Museum Has A 42% On Rotten Tomatoes

Ben Stiller arguing with a monkey in Night at the Museum while his face is covered in shaving cream

Night at the Museum was universally panned by critics, earning a 42% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was not lambasted in the way of some comedy films, but audiences and critics found it lukewarm at best. Most pointed to the same issues; the film seemed to prioritize spectacle over story.

Despite the incredible VFX behind a fully articulated T. Rex skeleton, there just is not enough of a story in Night at the Museum to engage even the youngest audiences. Critics were also split on Ben Stiller's performance, with many citing his seeming lack of interest in anything but the slapstick elements.

Night At The Museum Is A Surprisingly Robust Franchise

Rami Malek as Ahkmenrah with Ben Stiller's Larry in Night at the Museum

Despite the low review scores, Night at the Museum earned $574 million worldwide (via BoxOfficeMojo). While a sequel was inevitable, it's still surprising to see how robust a franchise Night at the Museum has become. There are two more live-action sequels, and a fourth, animated, sequel arrived in 2022.

Like the original, Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Secret of the Tomb (2014), and Kahmunrah Rises Again (2022) all had low to middling critical scores, but did extremely well at the box office. There's even been a video game adaptation, and as recently as 2022, there have been plans for a Night at the Museum musical (via BroadwayWorld).

Has Night At The Museum Aged Well?

Ben Stiller and Robin Williams as Larry Daley holding a flashlight and Teddy Roosevelt in Night at the Museum

Even with the bad critical scores, Night at the Museum has been climbing the streaming charts on Netflix. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean the film is being reevaluated as a classic. Still, Night at the Museum has aged much better than you may initially expect. It's the type of movie you don't see anymore.

It's not adapted from any major IP, only based on a children's book from 1993, and it has a light, absurdist tone that's hard to find these days. Night at the Museum is a cozy film with a unique idea. It doesn't do everything right, but it does enough to keep you around for a sequel or two.