# Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

> 2009 film directed by Shawn Levy

**Wikidata**: [Q476726](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q476726)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_at_the_Museum:_Battle_of_the_Smithsonian)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian

## Summary
*Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian* is a 2009 fantasy-comedy action film directed by Shawn Levy, serving as the second installment in the *Night at the Museum* trilogy. Produced by 1492 Pictures and financed by RatPac-Dune Entertainment, the film was distributed by 20th Century Studios and released in May 2009. It blends slapstick humor with adventure and fantasy genres, continuing the story of Ben Stiller's character within the franchise.

## Key Facts
- **Release Dates**: The film premiered on May 14, 2009, with subsequent releases on May 21, 2009, and May 22, 2009.
- **Director**: Shawn Levy, who also directed the 2006 predecessor and the 2014 sequel.
- **Production Companies**: 1492 Pictures (founded 1995) and RatPac-Dune Entertainment (founded 2006).
- **Distributor**: 20th Century Studios, an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company (founded May 31, 1935).
- **Genres**: Classified as a fantasy film, adventure film, action film, and slapstick comedy.
- **Franchise Position**: It is the second film in the *Night at the Museum* trilogy, preceded by *Night at the Museum* (2006) and succeeded by *Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb* (2014).
- **Aliases**: Also known as *Night at the Museum 2* and *Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian*.
- **Production Countries**: United States (independence declared July 4, 1776) and Canada (federalized July 1, 1867).
- **Official Website**: http://www.lanuitaumusee2-lefilm.com/
- **Wikidata Description**: 2009 film directed by Shawn Levy.
- **Sitelink Count**: The entity has 48 associated sitelinks across knowledge bases.

## FAQs
**What is the chronological order of the Night at the Museum film series?**
The trilogy begins with the 2006 film *Night at the Museum*, followed by *Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian* in 2009, and concludes with *Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb* released in 2014. All three entries were directed by Shawn Levy.

**Which companies were responsible for financing and producing this movie?**
The film was produced by the American production company 1492 Pictures, which was established in 1995. Financing was handled by RatPac-Dune Entertainment, a motion picture financing organization founded in 2006.

**What genres define the style and tone of this specific installment?**
This entry combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and action, while specifically utilizing slapstick as its primary style of comedy. It fits the broader classification of a fantasy-comedy film.

**Where was the film released and what is its distribution history?**
The movie was released in the United States and Canada, with specific premiere dates in May 2009. It was distributed globally by 20th Century Studios, a major American studio headquartered in the US.

## Why It Matters
*Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian* represents a significant expansion of the original franchise's narrative scope, moving the setting from a New York museum to the vast Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Its importance lies in its successful integration of slapstick comedy with high-stakes adventure and fantasy elements, appealing to a broad demographic of family audiences. By leveraging the resources of major industry players like 20th Century Studios and RatPac-Dune Entertainment, the film demonstrated the commercial viability of the trilogy format. It serves as a crucial bridge in the series, maintaining the creative vision of director Shawn Levy while expanding the universe before the final chapter. The film also highlights the collaborative nature of the American and Canadian film industries, utilizing production frameworks from both nations.

## Notable For
- Being the second entry in a trilogy starring Ben Stiller, maintaining continuity with the 2006 original.
- Featuring a unique blend of four distinct genres: fantasy, adventure, action, and slapstick comedy.
- Utilizing the specific production capabilities of 1492 Pictures and the financing power of RatPac-Dune Entertainment.
- Releasing across three specific dates in May 2009, marking a staggered global rollout strategy.
- Serving as a direct predecessor to the 2014 conclusion, *Secret of the Tomb*, completing the trilogy arc.
- Operating under the distribution umbrella of 20th Century Studios, a company with a history dating back to 1935.
- Maintaining a high level of digital presence with 48 sitelinks, indicating significant cross-referencing in knowledge graphs.

## Body

### Production and Corporate Structure
The creation of *Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian* involved a collaboration between several key industry entities. The production was spearheaded by 1492 Pictures, an American film production company that was founded on January 1, 1995. Financial backing for the project was provided by RatPac-Dune Entertainment, an American motion picture financing company established in 2006 with its headquarters in New York City. The film was distributed by 20th Century Studios, a major American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. 20th Century Studios has a long history, with inception dates recorded as May 31, 1935, and a later restructuring date of 1985. The studio is headquartered in the United States and employs approximately 2,300 people, operating primarily within the film industry.

### Release Timeline and Geography
The film's release strategy spanned multiple dates in May 2009. The initial publication date was recorded as May 14, 2009, followed by releases on May 21, 2009, and May 22, 2009. The production and distribution were rooted in the United States, a country whose independence was declared on July 4, 1776, and formally recognized by the Treaty of Paris on May 12, 1784. Canada also played a role in the film's context, being a North American country that achieved federalization on July 1, 1867. These geographical connections highlight the North American scope of the production.

### Genre and Stylistic Elements
This entity is classified under multiple film genres, distinguishing it from single-genre productions. It is categorized as a fantasy film, an adventure film, and an action film. A defining stylistic characteristic of the movie is its use of slapstick, a specific style of comedy. These classifications align it with the broader *Night at the Museum* trilogy, which is described as a series of fantasy-comedy films. The combination of these genres creates a unique viewing experience that balances imaginative storytelling with physical humor and action sequences.

### Franchise Context and Sequencing
*Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian* occupies a central position in the *Night at the Museum* trilogy. It is preceded by the 2006 film *Night at the Museum*, also directed by Shawn Levy. It is succeeded by *Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb*, a 2014 film directed by the same filmmaker. The entire trilogy is noted for starring Ben Stiller. This specific entry acts as the middle chapter, expanding the narrative established in the first film and setting the stage for the conclusion. The relationship between these films is well-documented, with the trilogy having a sitelink count of 7, indicating its recognition as a cohesive group.

### Digital Presence and Metadata
The film maintains a robust digital footprint with a sitelink count of 48, reflecting its presence across various knowledge bases and language versions. It is associated with the Wikipedia title "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian." Alternative aliases for the film include *Night at the Museum 2* and *Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian*. An official website was established for the film at http://www.lanuitaumusee2-lefilm.com/. The Wikidata description succinctly identifies it as a "2009 film directed by Shawn Levy." These metadata points ensure the entity is easily identifiable and searchable within digital ecosystems.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. The Movie Database
3. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Rotten Tomatoes
4. Freebase Data Dumps
5. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1078912/releaseinfo)
6. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1078912/releaseinfo)
7. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/158984/2009_filmbemutatok_osszes.xls)
8. BBC Things
9. [Source](https://www.filmratings.com/Search?filmTitle=Night+at+the+Museum:+Battle+of+the+Smithsonian)
10. [Source](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=nightatthemuseum2.htm)
11. [IMDb](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1078912/)
12. Kinopoisk
13. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/night-at-the-museum-2/)
14. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
15. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
16. Online-Filmdatenbank
17. SoundtrackCollector
18. Cinémathèque québécoise
19. mymovies.it
20. Bechdel Test Movie List
21. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/490A-4403-63F4-3E95-B614-P)
22. Danish Film Database
23. [Source](https://norske-dubber.fandom.com/no/wiki/Natt_på_museet_2_(Film)?oldid=122942)
24. TheTVDB
25. Trakt.tv
26. FilmVandaag.nl