Kevin James Shared His Honest Reaction to Seeing the First Cut of Paul Blart: Mall Cop and How It Affected Him
Kevin James now (right) and in Paul Blart.
Credit :
Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty; Moviestore/Shutterstock
Kevin James recently shared his initial reaction to the 2009 film Paul Blart: Mall Cop, revealing that he initially found it "horrendous" upon viewing the first cut. During a segment on The Drew Barrymore Show, aired on February 3, James, now 60, recalled his early skepticism about the film’s potential for success, admitting he thought his career might be over after watching it.
The film features James as Paul Blart, a bumbling mall security guard who unexpectedly becomes embroiled in a heist. After expressing his concerns, James credited his close friend Adam Sandler with playing a pivotal role in the film’s development. He noted that Sandler’s influence helped shape the final cut, remarking, "He saved — he made my movie Mall Cop. I would never have gotten that made; he made it."
Responding to Barrymore, who highlighted her own long-standing collaboration with Sandler in projects like The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates, James said, "Everything he does, I listen. I mean I just follow him."
James described the process of viewing the first cut as "a little scary." He explained the distress of seeing the initial edit, stating, “By the way, we shot it and we edited it… it’s horrendous. I thought…my career was over and we were so panicked.” Sandler intervened, reassuring him and suggesting adjustments that ultimately enhanced the film.
The final product proved to be a box office success, grossing over $183 million worldwide against a budget of $26 million. The film’s popularity led to a sequel, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, which was released in 2015.
