: Larry's mentor and a wax figure of the 26th U.S. President.
: Larry finds himself caught between the lively exhibits and a trio of veteran night guards (Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs) who have a secret plan to steal the tablet for its life-giving properties.
When Night at the Museum premiered in theaters on December 22, 2006, few predicted it would become a billion-dollar franchise. Based on the beloved 1993 children's book by Milan Trenc, the film took a simple, haunting premise—what if the wax statues came to life after dark?—and turned it into a high-octane, heartfelt family comedy. For those searching for , you are looking for the origin story: the chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly emotional night that introduced us to Larry Daley and the inhabitants of New York’s American Museum of Natural History.
The film’s masterstroke was casting three legends of comedy as the outgoing night guards: Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs.
One of the strongest pillars of Night at the Museum Part 1 is its impeccable casting. The film serves as a bridge between generations of comedy, pairing the frantic energy of Ben Stiller with the old-school charm of Hollywood veterans.
The museum inhabitants were brought to life by a colorful supporting cast: