6 Best Security Guard and Night Watchman Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 25, 2026

Watching over empty buildings at night makes for family magic, dark comedy and action. Paul Blart: Mall Cop has an overzealous guard stopping thieves, Observe and Report has a delusional mall guard chasing a flasher, and Security has a lone guard protecting a witness from mercenaries. The Watch, Night at the Museum and its Smithsonian sequel round out the six.

Security (2017)

TMDB ★ 5.4

A lone mall security guard must defend a terrified witness from a ruthless team of mercenaries overnight.

Directed by Alain Desrochers · 1h 27m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Watch (2012)

TMDB ★ 5.8

A suburban neighbourhood watch group formed to catch a killer instead uncovers an alien invasion.

Directed by Akiva Schaffer · 1h 42m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu, fuboTV, FXNow, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Observe and Report (2009)

TMDB ★ 5.9

A delusional, unstable mall security guard pursues a flasher while chasing his dream of becoming a cop.

Directed by Jody Hill · 1h 26m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)

TMDB ★ 5.6

An overzealous mall security guard must single-handedly stop a gang of thieves during a holiday rush.

Directed by Steve Carr · 1h 31m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Starz, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A former night guard returns to save his animated museum friends from an ancient villain.

Directed by Shawn Levy · 1h 45m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu, FXNow · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Night at the Museum (2006)

IMDb ★ 6.5 RT 43% Metacritic 48

A night guard discovers every exhibit in the museum comes alive after dark.

Directed by Shawn Levy · 1h 48m · Rated PG

2 wins & 8 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu, FXNow · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Security Guard and Night Watchman Movies

Security (2017)

The Watch (2012)

Observe and Report (2009)

Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

Night at the Museum (2006)

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