In the battle between enchanted museums and explosive machines, museums attracted a larger crowd on Friday according to box-office estimates. The family comedy Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian claimed the No. 1 spot Friday, grossing $15.3 mil. Smithsonian’s opening-day total was star Ben Stiller’s best live-action debut ever, and the movie surpassed the opening-day result of its predecessor, Night at the Museum, which opened to $12.1 million in December 2006. Closely behind Smithsonian was Terminator Salvation with $14.8 million. When combined with its $13.4 million take on Thursday, Terminator’s two-day total stands at $28.2 million.

1. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian – $15.3 mil
2. Terminator Salvation – $14.8 mil