History Film / NightAtTheMuseum

* IdiotBall: Larry seems to have forgotten that it was well established in the previous film that simply turning the middle piece of the tablet cancels the spell, meaning he could effectively solve the entire problem ''in seconds''.

* IdiotBall: Whenever Larry manages to get the tablet, and is subsequently attacked or chased by Kamunrah's supporters, it never occurs to him to [[MundaneSolution just turn]] [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim the tablet's panels]] to render them lifeless again. He already knows that Cecil did this in the previous film, and has no reason to believe that it wouldn't work in this situation.

* OverlyLongGag: Often the plot stops dead to allow for various characters to have a back-and-forth argument, seemly just made up of snappy lines the writers came up with.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: How is the tablet owner's name spelled? Ahkmenrah, Akhmenrah, or Akmenrah? Made more confusing as the ending credits of the first movie spell it as "Akhmenrah", but the third movie beginning and credits spell it "Ahkmenrah".

* WhatMeasureIsANonCute: The scene near the end [[spoiler: where all the exhibits are dying has Larry cradle a dying Dex. The focus seems understandable as the others are not technically alive; just wax sculptures of people brought to life that are reverting back to statues... except for Ahkmenrah. Ahkmenrah was a mummy on display, and therefore once a living human being. He is the only one besides Dex who is ''actually dying'', reverting back to a mummified corpse. However, the movie glosses over his death to have the moment between Larry and Dex and Larry doesn't even spare Ahkmenrah a glance]]. While this makes sense considering the movie's intended audience (kids love fluffy animals), it does seem rather heartless within the world of the film.

* RealityIsUnrealistic: Some accused the filmmakers of whitewashing Egyptians with the casting of Creator/RamiMalek as Pharaoh Ahkmenrah. While Malek was born and raised in America, he is actually of Egyptian descent as his parents emigrated from that very country.

* RealityIsUnrealistic: Ankmenrah's actor, Rami Malek, actually ''is'' ethnically Egyptian.

* FrameUp: It's revealed that the real reason the former night watchmen hired Larry was so he could be a patsy; they made a copy of his house key, and planted several artefacts in his apartment.

** How is Larry going to explain the destruction or disappearance of some of the most valuable artefacts in human history?

--> What? They're very blue.
** [[spoiler: As the tablet further corrodes, Octavius and Jedediah attempt to die holding hands.]]

** In the first film, it's [[spoiler: Cecil the previous night guard]].

** In ''Secret of the Tomb'', it's [[spoiler: Sir Lancelot]].

-->'''Merenkhare''': The secret [of the tablet] was to be revealed to you at the proper time.\\
'''Ahkmenrah''': Well it has been ''four thousand years.'' Now seems like a good time.

* InSeriesNickname: Several of the characters with long names have theirs shortened (at least occasionally) by Larry. He almost always uses "Jed" for Jedediah and "Teddy" for Theodore Roosevelt (in real life, TR hated that nickname and only let close relatives use it, so it’s unlikely Larry would get a pass), and also sometimes uses "Dex" for Dexter, "Sac" for Sacagawea and "Ahk" for Ahkmenrah.

-->'''Gus''': Sweet dreams, cupcake! PILEDRIVER!

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Cecil did this unintentionally when giving advice to Larry. Cecil advises Larry to research stuff on the museum exhibits to help him out [[spoiler: which is used against him when Larry shouts the secret code to stop the horse-drawn cart Cecil used to escape]].

* EmbarrassinglyDresslikeOutfit: Kah Mun Rah repeatedly insists that his outfit is not a dress, it's a tunic.
--> '''Kah Mun Rah:''' It was the height of fashion 3000 years ago, I assure you.

-->'''Kahmunrah''': Are there any other questions?\\

'''Kahmunrah''': Any questions not about the dress... tunic.\\

-->'''Kahmunrah''': [''holding a squirming, shouting Jedediah''] Don't squirm, don't squirm, you'll only make it worse. Come now, I shan't hurt you. [''drops Jed into the hourglass and shuts it''] Oops, I lied. [''flips hourglass over'']

-->'''Kahmunrah''': This is not a dress, it is a tunic!

* LastKiss: [[spoiler: Amelia and Larry share one after she flies him home.]]

* MayflyDecemberRomance: Amelia Earhart and Larry. There's obvious sexual tension between them, but Larry deliberately chooses to spur her advances knowing how, upon taking the Tablet away, Amelia will return to her lifeless, mannequin status, dooming their romance to live and die in a single night, and vowing to spare the horrible truth to Amelia. Amelia [[spoiler: has different ideas though: she already knows, she just doesn't care that much]].

* MissionPackSequel

* PaintedOnPants: Amelia Earhart's pants. In fact, she's the page picture.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Once Kahmunrah opens the gate to the underworld, he no longer needs Larry (whom he had had previously allowed to live so Larry could find the tablet's combination for him). Thus, his first command to the Bird-Warriors is for them to kill Larry. [[spoiler: Luckily, [[BigDamnHeroes the arrival of Octavius and Abraham Lincoln distracts him]].]]

* TheCameo: Aside from the abovementioned AdamWesting, [[spoiler: Cecil, Gus and Reginald from the first movie are now in a nursing home. Cecil is relevant to the plot in the first act of the film.]]
* ChekhovsGun:

* DiedInYourArmsTonight: [[spoiler: Dexter becomes a statue again while resting in Larry's arms. The experience of seeing it disturbs Larry so much that he later admits his affection for him.]]
* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler: The New York exhibits turn back into statues (or, in the case of Ahkmenrah, ''rot back into a corpse''), when the magic of the tablet goes away. Dexter in particular has this the most, complete with slowly dying in Larry's arms. It's undone when Lancelot gives in and allows the moonlight to restore the magic again.]]

* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Lancelot starts off being on the heroes' side, helping them defeat Trixie the triceratops and then the Xiangliu statue, but then [[spoiler: pulls a FaceHeelTurn once he believes that the tablet is the Holy Grail he seeks, stealing it and trying to flee to Camelot]]. However, once he discovers that he is a made-up character and Camelot isn't real, and after witnessing [[spoiler:the exhibits starting to die]], he pulls a HeelFaceTurn and gives Larry the tablet back, ultimately returning to being (and remaining) one of the good guys.

'''Larry''': No, we're not gonna kill it! It's asleep.\\
'''Lancelot''': You're right, it wouldn't be sporting to kill it while it sleeps. ... All right, let's wake it up, ''then'' kill it.\\

'''Lancelot''': Ah, good. ''Now'' we can kill it.

--> '''Larry''': I know you hate this job and everything, but tomorrow night ... ''best job ever''.

* BattleInterruptingShout: The Moai shouts "QUIET!!!!!" while the exhibits were fightin so that Larry could speak to them.

* BigShutUp: In short, Big "QUIET!". The Moai does this so Larry could speak to the fighting exhibits.

* BattleInterruptingShout: When the museum is in anarchy and all the exhibits are squabbling with each other, Larry tries to get their attention but he can't make himself heard over the ruckus. The much louder Easter Island head yells "QUIIIIIEEEEET!" drawing out the word until everybody pauses, then adds, "My dum-dum want to speak."

* BigShutUp: Or, rather, Big "QUIET!". The Moai does this so Larry could speak to the fighting exhibits.

The second sequel, ''Secret of the Tomb'', was released on December 19, 2014. The final mystery of the origin of the tablet is revealed as its magic seems to be wearing out and Larry searches for a way to revive its power. The British Museum in London holds the answers and further hijinks abound. It was one of the last film roles for Creator/RobinWilliams before his suicide in August 2014, and for Creator/MickeyRooney, who passed away in April of the same year; Rooney's appearance allowed him to become the first (and possibly only) actor to appear in a motion picture in '''10''' consecutive decades.

* Bookends: Sacagawea's last words to Larry are said silently (mouthing, "Thank you," from across the room), just as her first words were, when she was behind glass.