TV's "King of Queens" is the now the king of screens - movie screens that is.

Chubby sitcom star Kevin James blew away the competition as his "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" collared $33.8 million and the top box office spot.

"In these tough, recession-laden times, you'd think people wouldn't want a movie that's based around a mall," said box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "But they totally do."

"Blart" pushed Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" to the No. 2 spot with $22 million.

Three new releases rounded out the top five with "My *lo**y Valentine: 3D" debuting at No.3 with with $21.9 million.

"Notorious," a biopic about slain rapper Notorious B.I.G. opened at No. 4 with $21.5 million, and the family comedy "Hotel for Dogs" earned $17.7 and fifth place.

"Bride Wars" and "The Unborn" continued to make strong showings with $11.75 million in ticket sales for "Brides" and $9.8 million for "Unborn," which landed them the sixth and seventh spots respectively.

"Defiance," starring James Bond's Daniel Craig and based on the true story of Jews who survived the Holocaust in the forests of Belarus, reached No. 8 and made $9.8 million as it expanded nationwide this weekend.

The holiday comedy "Marley and Me" continued to dog the competition, holding its own in ninth place with $6.3 million.

The big winner at last weekend's Golden Globes, "Slumdog Millionaire," crept into the No. 10 spot with $5.9 million.

BY JANE H. FURSE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER