The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Film›Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Entertainment • Film

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Paul Blart: Mall Cop is a 2009 American action-comedy film directed by Steve Carr and starring Kevin James as a mall security guard who gets caught in a hostage crisis during a heist.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Paul Blart: Mall Cop is a 2009 American action-comedy film directed by Steve Carr and starring Kevin James as a mall security guard who gets caught in a hostage crisis during a heist. The film was released by Columbia Pictures and later received a sequel, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, in 2015.

Plot

The story centres on Paul Blart, a mall security guard in New Jersey who dreams of becoming a police officer but is blocked by his physical limitations. When criminals take over the mall and hold people hostage, Blart stays inside and tries to stop them.

Cast and production

Kevin James stars as Paul Blart. The film was directed by Steve Carr and written by James and Nick Bakay, with production credits including James, Adam Sandler, Todd Garner, and others.

Release and reception

Paul Blart: Mall Cop opened in U.S. theatres on January 16, 2009. It was later released on DVD and Blu-ray, and reported revenue from box office and home media helped make it a commercially successful title.

Sequel

A follow-up film, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, was released in 2015 and continues the character's story in a new setting.

Key facts

  • Paul Blart: Mall Cop is a 2009 American action-comedy film directed by Steve Carr.
  • The film stars Kevin James as a mall security guard who tries to stop a hostage crisis during a mall heist.
  • It was released in the United States on January 16, 2009, and is rated PG with a runtime of about 97 minutes.
  • A sequel, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, was released in 2015.
🍁
Canadian context

The film is part of mainstream North American studio comedy cinema and was distributed internationally, including in Canada through standard Hollywood release and home-entertainment channels.

Frequently asked questions

What is Paul Blart: Mall Cop about?
It follows a mall security guard who is trapped inside a mall during a criminal takeover and tries to stop the hostage crisis himself.
Who stars in the film?
Kevin James stars as Paul Blart, alongside Jayma Mays, Keir O'Donnell, Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Rannazzisi, and Shirley Knight.
Who directed Paul Blart: Mall Cop?
Steve Carr directed the film.
When was it released?
It was released in the United States on January 16, 2009.
Is there a sequel?
Yes. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 was released in 2015.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Blart:_Mall_Cop
    Supports: Basic film metadata, synopsis, cast, production credits, and commercial performance mention.
  2. Simple English Wikipedia — https://www.simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Blart:_Mall_Cop
    Supports: Release date and basic identification of the film.
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/paul-blart-mall-cop
    Supports: Runtime, MPAA/PG rating, cast, director, and plot summary.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/paul_blart_mall_cop
    Supports: Genre and release-related details.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1114740/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot summary and setting.
  6. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/list/ls568630757/
    Supports: Release year, runtime, rating, cast, director, and sequel listing.
  7. Movie Insider — https://www.movieinsider.com/m1608/paul-blart-mall-cop
    Supports: U.S. theatrical release date and home-media release date.
  8. Apple TV — https://www.apple.com/tv/
    Supports: Film synopsis, director, runtime, and cast.