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Hit movie may have boosted NY museum attendance

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-01-05 14:51

NEW YORK  - The number of visitors to New York's American Museum of Natural History jumped by nearly 20 percent during the holiday period, and a Hollywood hit is probably responsible, museum officials said on Thursday.

"Night at the Museum," released on Dec. 22, stars Ben Stiller as a security guard at a natural history museum where exhibits come to life at night. The exterior of the American Museum of Natural History is featured in the film.

"I think that (the movie) absolutely played a part," Steve Reichl, director of media relations at the museum, said of the visitor increase.

He said that between Dec. 22 and Jan. 2 there were 50,000 more visitors than a year earlier, a period coinciding with the movie.

The family comedy so far has earned more than $137 million -- topping the North American box office during its first two weekends.