'Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again' (2022)

Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again (2022) is a Disney+ original movie that is centered on Nick Daley, the main protagonist, as he becomes a night watchman at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Our new protagonist is the son of Larry Daley, the original protagonist in the film series. Unlike the preceding films in the series, this movie is animated, while the older films are live-action. All of the characters are drawn in 2D animation style, including Larry Daley. New York is also drawn in a 2D animation style.

Like in the older movies in the series, when the museum closes and the night watchman is on guard, all of the artifacts and displays at the museum come to life, hence the title of the film series. The second part of the title, Kahmunrah Rises Again, is about Kahmunrah, the main antagonist, of this animated film, and his awakening.

Nick Daley is unsure about whether he is a good fit for being a night watchman at the museum, as he is still a teenager. After all, the last night watchman quit his job after witnessing the displays come to life. He is struggling with his self-confidence because of his clumsiness. He struggles with talking to Mia, a girl at his school that he likes, and impressing her.

Nick faces the same conflict Larry faces in the older films of the series: museum displays coming to life. The series’ title is referenced in many scenes, such as Nick’s first night at the museum. He makes friends along the way. The ancient tablet serves as the catalyst driving the plot forward. The tablet can bring any art exhibit to life. It symbolizes time travel.

There are many references to older films in the series. As Nick struggles with his quest, the characters at the museum mention Larry’s old adventures in dialogue. Like in the live-action movies, Nick literally follows in Larry’s footsteps and jumps into the portals of the exhibits.

Nick’s character arc is the main focus of this movie. His personality grows from self-doubt to self-confidence as his friends help him get the magic tablet and put it back in its place. Larry’s legacy as a night watchman is passed onto Nick.

Though there is no clear representation of minorities other than women in the cast, viewers see representative figures in their animated forms, such as Egyptian figures coming to life, serving as supporting roles.