National Treasure (2004)

Nicolas Cage swipes the Declaration of Independence to protect it, and National Treasure treats that logic with a completely straight face. Every clue is wilder than the last: a map on the back that only shows up with lemon juice and a hair dryer, special glasses with colored lenses, a code tucked inside old letters. Critics gave it 47%, and they had a point. Diane Kruger’s Abigail mostly yells about the document, which is fair, since everyone keeps rolling it up and running. Sean Bean gives the villain a scowl and almost nothing to scowl about. But the movie never once winks, and Cage sells every leap of logic like it’s carved in marble. Justin Bartha’s Riley handles the comedy, a tech guy who keeps reminding everyone that this is a federal crime. It’s a civics lesson with a getaway car. It made $347.5 million worldwide. A 6.3 because it’s dumb, earnest and somehow very rewatchable. $467.73 says you hold a dollar bill up to a lamp tonight looking for a secret map.

What works: Nicolas Cage plays every ridiculous clue with total conviction, and Justin Bartha’s wisecracks keep the whole hunt light.

What doesn’t: The clues get sillier at every step, and Sean Bean’s villain is too bland to make the chase feel dangerous.

Who it’s for: Families on a road trip to anywhere with a museum, and anyone who always wanted to read the back of a famous document.