Will Kevin James Become a 'King' at the Box Office?

How much of a box office draw is Kevin James?
In 2005, "Hitch" made $177 million in the U.S. But all of the credit -- and probably deservedly so -- went to Will Smith.
In 2007, "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" collected $119 million in the U.S. But even though James was the co-star, it was billed -- for all intents and purposes -- as an Adam Sandler movie.
However, in 2009, a comedy with a poor premise, no proven co-star and a terrible name is closing in on $140 million in the U.S. And for this, there can only be one reason: Kevin James.

In what is admittedly a small poll, I have talked to several people who have seen "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and every one of them told me they went for the same reason: they just like Kevin James.
Next year, the newly-minted box office attraction will attempt to show "Paul Blart" wasn't a fluke with "The Zookeeper." In that flick, the animals at a zoo decide to break their code of silence in order to help their zookeeper gain the attention of one particular woman.
Unless it is absolutely terrible (and really, even if it is), I'm betting "The Zookeeper" will do big business. James in a family-friendly comedy seems like a good recipe for success right about now.

First up for James, however, is a project that has a lot of people talking -- and not all of that talk is positive.
Due out March 10, 2010, is a movie currently referred to officially as "Untitled Adam Sandler Project."
Unofficially, it is being labeled as "that movie with all of the people from 'Saturday Night Live' who used to be funny." Ouch.

Joining Adam Sandler and Kevin James in the lead roles will be Chris Rock, Rob Schneider and David Spade. In the movie, five friends reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend 30 years after their high school graduation.
Cameras are set to roll this summer on the movie, which also will feature Salma Hayek and ex-SNLers Maya Rudolph and Colin Quinn.

Honestly, I don't care whether the movie is good, bad or ugly -- I would love to have a piece of it financially. It's going to be a hit.
But, I have read a lot of snide comments about the movie so far, and what's interesting is that if the movie simply featured Adam Sandler and Kevin James, there would be far less insults. It's the inclusion of Rock, Schneider and Spade that have people deriding the movie.

It will be an interesting test to see whether James and Sandler can lift the movie up at the box office or whether Rock, Schneider and Spade will drag it down. At one point, the box office prospects for the SNLers from the early- to mid-'90s looked promising. Since then, however, they have been passed by the Frat Pack (Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, the Wilsons, etc.) and then again by the Apatow Crew (Jason Segal, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, etc.).

For Rock, Schneider and Spade, a big hit next spring could be the career resuscitation they desperately need. Most likely, though, it will be the former star of a different TV show who will benefit en route to becoming a new "King" at the box office.