Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is a 2014 American fantasy comedy film directed by Shawn Levy and written by David Guion and Michael Handelman. It is the third (and final live-action) installment in the Night at the Museum film series, a sequel to Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), and the final installment of the original trilogy. The film stars Ben Stiller in the lead role, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Dan Stevens and Ben Kingsley.
The film follows security guard Larry Daley as he travels to London to restore the Tablet of Ahkmenrah, which causes the exhibits to come to life, before the magic disappears.
Principal photography of Secret of the Tomb took place from January to May 2014 in London, England and British Columbia, Canada. The film premiered on December 11, 2014, at New York City's Ziegfeld Theater and was released in the United States on December 19, 2014, by 20th Century Fox. Secret of the Tomb grossed over $363 million at the box office, becoming the lowest-grossing film in the series, and like its predecessors, received mixed reviews.
Plot
In 1938, archaeologists are searching for the tomb of pharaoh Ahkmenrah in Egypt. The Tablet of Ahkmenrah is found. As the tombs artifacts are being packed, the locals warn against removing the tablet from the tomb, saying "the end will come."
Seventy-six years later in New York City, five years after the events of the second film, Larry Daley is still the Museum of Natural History night guard. He and the exhibits are hosting an event to help re-open the Hayden Planetarium. The exhibits inform Larry that the museum commissioned a new Neanderthal model that resembles him. The new Neanderthal calls himself Laaa and considers Larry his father. Later, Ahkmenrah shows Larry that the tablet has a mysterious corrosion. As the corrosion spreads, the exhibits act abnormally and cause massive chaos at the planetarium. After calming the situation, a frustrated Larry returns home where teenage son Nick, is throwing a party. After, the discuss Nick's future.
To discover what is happening to the tablet, Larry seeks out former museum guard Cecil Fredericks, now living in a retirement community following his release from prison. Cecil, whose father was the archaeologist who found the tablet, remembers, "the end will come" prophecy and realizes the tablet's magic is ending and the exhibits are becoming lifeless. Cecil says Ahkmenrah's parents, Merenkahre and Shepseheret, who are in the British Museum, may be able to restore the tablet's power. Larry convinces museum curator Dr. McPhee, who was fired after the planetarian incident, to allow him to ship Ahkmenrah to London to restore the tablet, though McPhee believes the magic is just clever special effects. Larry, Ahkmenrah, and Nick travel to the U.K. and go to the British Museum, bypassing night guard Tilly. Larry discovers that some of the American exhibits have stowed away with Ahkmenrah: Theodore Roosevelt, miniatures Jedediah and Octavius, Sacagawea, Attila the Hun, Dexter the capuchin monkey, and Laaa, who want to help. As they search the museum, the tablet brings the British exhibits to life.
The group is joined by a wax figure of Sir Lancelot. As the tablet's corrosion worsens, the American exhibits begin experiencing stiffening limbs and memory reversion. Ahkmenrah's parents are located and they explain the tablet's power can be regenerated by moonlight through the magic of Khonsu. Lancelot steals the tablet, believing it is the Holy Grail, and prepares to leave for Camelot. Tilly locks Larry and Laaa in the employee breakroom but they escape.
Lancelot crashes the musical Camelot and is stunned to learn that Camelot, King Arthur, and the Knights of the Round Table are myths. The corrosion has almost consumed the entire tablet and is rendering the exhibits into lifeless forms. The group tells Lancelot that although Camelot never existed, he can have a life. Lancelot returns the tablet and Larry straightens the pieces as the moonlight restores the tablet's power and revives the exhibits. As the American exhibits prepare to return home, they decide that Ahkmenrah and the tablet should stay at the British Museum with his parents, despite knowing they will no longer come alive. Larry is upset, but they are at peace with their unanimous decision. Ahkmenrah thanks Larry for reuniting him with his family, and the exhibits head home. Back in New York, Larry spends some final moments with his friends before the sun rises, then departs the museum for the final time.
Three years later, Larry is now a schoolteacher. Tilly brings a traveling exhibit to New York in a collaboration with the museum. In McPhee's office, Tilly gives him the tablet, showing him its power and allowing the exhibits to awaken again. From across the street, Larry, smiling, quietly watches as the exhibits celebrate their revival.
Cast Ben Stiller as Larry Daley, a security guard at the American Museum of Natural History. Stiller as Laaa, a Neanderthal who was made to resemble Larry. Rami Malek as Ahkmenrah, the mummy of an ancient pharaoh. Dan Stevens as Sir Lancelot, the wax statue of the legendary Knight of the Round Table. Robin Williams as Theodore Roosevelt, the wax sculpture of the 26th President of the United States who is Larry's mentor. Williams also voices Garuda. Owen Wilson as Jedediah, a cowboy diorama miniature and Octavius' best friend. Steve Coogan as Octavius, a Roman soldier miniature and Jedediah's best friend. Rebel Wilson as Tilly, the night security guard at the British Museum. Skyler Gisondo as Nick Daley, the son of Larry Daley who is now a teenager. Ben Kingsley as Merenkahre, the mummy of an ancient pharaoh and Ahkmenrah's father. Ricky Gervais as Dr. Leslie McPhee, the director of the Museum of Natural History and Larry's boss. Mizuo Peck as Sacagawea, the polyurethane model of the Lemhi Shoshone woman who is Theodore Roosevelt's girlfriend. Patrick Gallagher as Attila the Hun, the statue of the leader of the Huns. Crystal the Monkey as Dexter, a stuffed Capuchin monkey. Anjali Jay as Shepseheret, the mummy of a Great Royal Wife of Merenkahre and Ahkmenrah's mother. Brad Garrett (voice) as Moai, an Easter Island Head at the Museum of Natural History. Randy Lee, Darryl Quon, Gerald Wong, Paul Chih-Ping Cheng as wax models of Huns. Kerry van der Griend, Matthew Harrison, and Jody Racicot as wax models of Neanderthals. Matty Finochio as Roman Sentry. Rachael Harris as Madeline Phelps, the chairwoman of the American Museum of Natural History. Dick Van Dyke as Cecil Fredericks Jr., a retired security guard from the first film. Percy Hynes White plays the younger Cecil "C.J" Fredericks Jr. in the prologue. Mickey Rooney as Gus, a retired security guard from the first film. Bill Cobbs as Reginald, a retired security guard from the first film. Andrea Martin as Rose, an archivist at the Museum of Natural History. Brennan Elliott as Robert Fredericks, C.J.'s father in the prologue. Matt Frewer as Archibald Stanley, an archaeologist who accompanies Robert and Cecil in the prologue Hugh Jackman (uncredited) as himself Alice Eve (uncredited) as herself
Production On January 21, 2010, co-writer Thomas Lennon said to Access Hollywood, "I think it's a really outstanding idea to do Night at the Museum 3, in fact. I wonder if someone's not even already working on a script for that. I cannot confirm that for a fact, but I cannot deny it for a fact either... It might be in the works." In an October 2011 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stiller confirmed the sequel; however, he said that it was only in the "ideas stage". In February 2013 it was announced that the film, directed by Shawn Levy, would be released on December 25, 2014. On September 10, 2013, it was announced that shooting would start in February 2014.
On November 8, 2013, actor Dan Stevens was cast as Lancelot. On November 15, 2013, it was announced that Skyler Gisondo would be replacing Jake Cherry in the role of Nicky Daley. On December 18, 2013, it was announced that Stiller, Robin Williams, and Ricky Gervais would be returning for the sequel. On January 9, 2014, it was announced that Rebel Wilson would play a security guard in the British Museum. On January 14, 2014, the film's release date was moved up from December 25, 2014, to December 19, 2014. On January 23, 2014, it was announced that Ben Kingsley would play an Egyptian Pharaoh at the British Museum. Principal photography and production began on January 27, 2014. On May 6, 2014, it was announced that the film would be titled Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. In May 2014, principal photography ended. Shooting took place outside the British Museum in London, England, as well as on a sound stage at the Vancouver Film Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia for scenes taking place inside the museum. This film marks the final performances of Robin Williams and Mickey Rooney and is dedicated to their memories.
Music
Alan Silvestri returned to score the final installment of the trilogy.
Varèse Sarabande released a soundtrack album of the film's score on January 6, 2015.
Release The film premiered at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on December 11, 2014. The film was released alongside Annie on December 19, 2014, in the United States, by 20th Century Fox.
Reception
Box office
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb grossed $113.7 million in North America, and $249.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $363.2 million against a budget of $127 million.
In North America, early analysts were predicting a potential $25–$28 million opening. In North America, the film was released on December 19, 2014, across 3,785 theaters. It earned $5.6 million on its opening day, placing at number three at the box office. The film underperformed expectations during its opening weekend, earning $17.1 million, which was relatively lower than the openings of the original film ($30.4 million) and its sequel ($54.1 million). The film debuted at number two at the box office behind The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. According to 20th Century Fox, the movie's audience was 51% male, with 54% of the audience under the age of 25. Audiences polled by CinemaScore during the opening weekend, gave the film an average grade of "B+", on an A+ to F scale.
The film began its international rollout the same weekend as the North American premiere and earned $10.4 million from 27 markets in its opening weekend, debuting at #3 behind at the box office behind The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and Penguins of Madagascar.Deadline Hollywood reported slightly different opening figures: $10.93 million from 29 international markets. The film expanded to an additional 40 markets in its second week and grossed $31.2 million. It topped the box office outside North America in its fourth weekend with a total gross of $46.2 million, primarily because of China, where it opened at #1 with $26 million. The other highest opening figures were from Mexico ($5.85 million), Brazil ($3.1 million), Malaysia ($3.07 million), the UK ($3 million), Australia ($2.8 million), Germany ($2.1 million) and Singapore ($2 million).
For the weekend of January 16, 2015, the film grossed $17.8 million, which includes a $3.9 million debut in South Korea.
Critical response On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a approval rating, based on 115 reviews, with an average score of 4.9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "While not without its moments, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb is a less-than-inspired sendoff for the trilogy." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 47 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".