--- title: "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian" critics_score: 51 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 51 from 15 reviews: 3 positive, 6 mixed, 6 negative. The reviews split almost evenly, with as many critics finding the sequel flat as finding it fun, and most of the praise landing on the same few things. The special effects, particularly the sequence in which paintings and sculptures join the chase, are singled out repeatedly as the point where the film comes alive. Amy Adams’s Amelia Earhart is the performance most often mentioned, with Hank Azaria’s Kahmunrah close behind, and several critics allow that it is faster and funnier than the first film. The reservations cluster on story. Critics who dislike it call it overstuffed, nearly plotless and a string of loosely connected gags, with slapstick standing in where a plot should be, and Time Out notes how little story remains once the original’s father-and-son thread is dropped. The spread is wide, from four stars at the Evening Standard to one at Den of Geek. Eye for Film is the lone dissenter on Adams, finding her grating rather than buoyant. ## Evening Standard — The Standard Rating 4 stars. 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film silly, cheerful and entertaining, despite some sentiment that threatens to blunt its invention. They single out the Smithsonian gallery sequence, where paintings and sculptures join the action, as its extra punch. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/funny-men-in-night-at-the-museum-2-7414489.html) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2009. French finds the sequel superior to its predecessor despite its near-repeat premise. He praises the astonishing special effects and the film’s upbeat spirit. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/may/24/night-at-the-museum-2?CMP=gu_com) ## The Hollywood Reporter — The Associated Press Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 19 May 2009. The review finds the sequel improved and entertaining, though it still feels like loosely connected bits rather than a cohesive whole. It especially praises the visual effects bringing famous artworks to life, along with Amy Adams’s spirited Amelia Earhart. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/night-museum-battle-smithsonian-film-93200/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 20 May 2009. The visible page identifies this as a review but does not reveal the critic’s verdict. The paywall also conceals what the critic praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian/5001413.article) ## The New York Times — A. O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 25 May 2009. The page returned only an access error, so the critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be established. No review text was available to summarize. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/movies/25arts-NIGHTATTHEMU_BRF.html) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2008. The critic finds it a faster, funnier improvement on the first film, but still a disappointment. Amy Adams’s Amelia Earhart and Hank Azaria’s villain stand out, while slapstick and pop-culture gags squander the family-friendly historical potential. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/night-museum-2-battle-smithsonian-review/) ## Radio Times — Karen Krizanovich Rating 3/5. The review gives this lively sequel a moderately favorable verdict. It highlights the witty exchanges with Kahmunrah and the colorful historical villains. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-fksuil/night-at-the-museum-2/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2/4. 20 May 2009. Schager finds the sequel flat and unable to deliver wonder, mirth, or suspense. He praises Amy Adams’s buoyant performance as an antidote to the film’s crowded, chaotic proceedings. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian/) ## Time Out Rating 2/5. 27 May 2009. The critic finds the sequel virtually plotless and regards it as a disappointing follow-up. They single out the loss of the original film’s deadbeat-dad drama as one sign of how little story remains. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2009. Sharkey finds the sequel silly and overstuffed, with too much pointless slapstick to make it work as a movie. She praises Amy Adams’s lively, stylish performance as Amelia Earhart. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-may-22-et-museum22-story.html) ## Variety — Lael Loewenstein Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 20 May 2009. Loewenstein finds the sequel overstuffed and less engaging than its predecessor, with spectacle and gags standing in for a stronger story. She praises the animated artworks, especially the hopping Balloon Dog, while criticizing the film’s lack of focus on Larry. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian-1200474757/) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2009. Tobias finds the sequel chaotic, unfunny, and less coherent than the original, despite a few marginal improvements. He singles out Amy Adams’s plucky Amelia Earhart performance for praise, while criticizing the crowded special effects and baffling plot. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian-1798206270) ## Eye for Film — Maria Realf Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2009. Realf finds the sequel bigger and more spectacular, and recommends it as good family fun despite its predictable plot. She praises the imaginative special effects, while noting that Amy Adams’s portrayal becomes grating. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/night-at-the-museum-2-film-review-by-maria-realf) ## HeyUGuys — Jon Lyus Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 6 November 2009. The critic finds the sequel entertaining but bloated and less charming than the original. Hank Azaria’s performance as Kahmunrah stands out, while the overcrowded plot and CGI-heavy spectacle weaken the film. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/blu-ray-review-night-at-the-museum-2/) ## Den of Geek — Michael Hague Rating 1/5. 18 May 2009. Hague considers the sequel a cynical, humorless disappointment that falls far short of the original. He singles out Hank Azaria’s Kahmunrah as a scene-stealing highlight amid a wasted cast. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/night-at-the-museum-battle-of-the-smithsonian.md