---
title: "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian"
year: 2009
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian-2009"
media_type: "movie"
tmdb_id: 18360
imdb_id: "tt1078912"
status: "Released"
runtime_minutes: 105
community_rating: 6.2
vote_count: 7346
content_rating: "PG"
---

# Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian-2009

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

The film is a comedy that follows the adventures of a museum night watchman. The watchman, Larry Daley, is tasked with overseeing the exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution. Larry's job becomes complicated when the exhibits are transferred to the archives, and he must help them out of a difficult situation. The exhibits, which are living and breathing, include historical figures such as Amelia Earhart, Abe Lincoln, and Ivan the Terrible. Larry's interactions with these figures lead to close encounters and misadventures. The film is a sequel to a previous comedy about Larry's experiences as a museum night watchman.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "Larry Daley must help his living exhibit friends transferred to the Smithsonian Institution archives."

### Why Watch
- features living and breathing exhibit friends
- includes close encounters with historical figures like Amelia Earhart and Abe Lincoln

### Caveats & Content Note
- some reviewers found it boring or silly
- some mentioned political indoctrination elements
- Tone & Suitability: This is a family-friendly adventure and comedy film rated PG.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: adventure, fantasy, comedy, action, family

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | Disney Plus | The Roku Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | Netflix, Disney Plus, Netflix Standard with Ads | None | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video |
| **Canada (CA)** | Disney Plus, Netflix, Starz Amazon Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads, Crave Amazon Channel | None | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| **Australia (AU)** | Netflix, Disney Plus, Netflix Standard with Ads | None | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |

## Creative Credits

- **Directed by**: Shawn Levy
- **Networks / Studios**: 21 Laps Entertainment, 1492 Pictures, Dune Entertainment

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Ben Stiller** as *Larry Daley*
- **Amy Adams** as *Amelia Earhart / Tess*
- **Owen Wilson** as *Jedediah Smith*
- **Hank Azaria** as *Kahmunrah / The Thinker / Abe Lincoln*
- **Robin Williams** as *Theodore Roosevelt*
- **Christopher Guest** as *Ivan the Terrible*
- **Alain Chabat** as *Napoleon Bonaparte*
- **Steve Coogan** as *Octavius*
- **Ricky Gervais** as *Dr. McPhee*
- **Bill Hader** as *George Armstrong Custer*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: When was the movie released?
It had a domestic theatrical release in the year 2009, with a US release date of 05/21/2009.

### Q: What is the runtime of the film?
The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes.

### Q: Who is the main character?
The main character is hapless museum night watchman Larry Daley.

### Q: Where are the exhibits transferred?
The exhibits are transferred to the archives at the Smithsonian Institution, also described as the Federal Archives in D.C.

### Q: Which historical figures does Larry encounter?
Larry's misadventures include close encounters with Amelia Earhart, Abe Lincoln, and Ivan the Terrible.

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*