6 Best Librarian and Museum Heist Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 23, 2026

Whether it’s a quiet archive or a heavily guarded gallery, the world of libraries and museums has inspired both charming comedies and elaborate heist thrillers. In The Mummy (1999): An adventurer and a librarian searching for treasure accidentally awaken a vengeful ancient mummy. Also notable is National Treasure (2004): A historian races to find a legendary treasure hidden by the Founding Fathers before rival thieves do.

American Animals (2018)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 88% Metacritic 68

Four college students plan an audacious heist to steal rare books from their university library.

Directed by Bart Layton · 1h 57m · Rated R

10 wins & 22 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MUBI Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

National Treasure (2004)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A historian races to find a legendary treasure hidden by the Founding Fathers before rival thieves do.

Directed by Jon Turteltaub · 2h 11m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Night at the Museum (2006)

IMDb ★ 6.5 RT 43% Metacritic 48

A struggling night guard discovers the museum's exhibits magically come to life after dark.

Directed by Shawn Levy · 1h 48m · Rated PG

2 wins & 8 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu, FXNow · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Party Girl (1995)

TMDB ★ 6.3

A carefree party girl reluctantly takes a library job that unexpectedly sparks a genuine passion.

Directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer · 1h 34m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

IMDb ★ 6.9 RT 68% Metacritic 72

A wealthy businessman who steals a priceless painting for thrills matches wits with an insurance investigator.

Directed by John McTiernan · 1h 53m · Rated R

3 wins & 2 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Mummy (1999)

TMDB ★ 7.1

An adventurer and a librarian searching for treasure accidentally awaken a vengeful ancient mummy.

Directed by Stephen Sommers · 2h 04m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Librarian and Museum Heist Movies

American Animals (2018)

National Treasure (2004)

Night at the Museum (2006)

Party Girl (1995)

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

The Mummy (1999)

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