Adam Sandler's movie track record has been something of a rollercoaster ride that's seen its highs and lows in the past 25 years. Many look back fondly on his weir, but enduring films of the '90s, while his more recent flicks are often criticized for being particularly goofy, juvenile, and stuffed with an abundance of product placement. His films range from slapstick comedy to subtler dramedies to rom-coms, and anywhere in between.
Despite Sandler's annoyingly over-the-top roles, his quirky, lighthearted, sarcastic, and often enraged characters set the stage for some humorous bits. Also, Sandler's underrated acting ability have been utilized in more serious roles that added unique personalities to some great dramatic films. So let's go back to school and grab our golf clubs as we take a look at the top 10 best Adam Sandler movies, according to IMDb.
Billy Madison (6.4)
A childhood favorite for many kids who grew up in the '90s, this quirky "fish out of water" comedy manages to cling to a number 10 spot for IMDb's top 10 rated Adam Sandler flicks.
Taking off the rose-colored nostalgic glasses, it's apparent that Billy Madison isn't quite the nuanced comedy classic it's often hyped up to be. It's wrought with dumb moments and particularly juvenile humor. Regardless, it's chock-full of plenty of hilarious moments, quotable lines, and even a bombastic musical number, all of which help make this 1995 breakout hit for Adam Sandler a comedy still beloved to this day.
Big Daddy (6.4)
The end of the '90s saw a bit of a decline of the Adam Sandler comedy, as the humor tended to get increasingly goofy and, dare we say, lazy. In that sense, Big Daddy is a bit of a swan song for the classic era of significant Sandler laugh-fests.
Despite its Happy Madison-brand wackiness ("hip-hop anonymous"), this movie actually has a pretty heartfelt and enduring plot, complete with an admirable performance by Jon Stewart and an amusing Steve Buscemi cameo. In it, a schlubby semi-employed toll booth worker is unexpectedly left to raise a child literally dropped at his doorstep. The narrative is something of a coming of age tale both for the boy, Julian, and for his temporary father figure, Sonny.
The Longest Yard (6.4)
One of Sandler's most significant comedy films of the 2000's is actually a Happy Madison-tinged remake of the '74 classic, The Longest Yard. The film has tons of great comedic performances by an unlikely band of convicts, which include Caretaker (Chris Rock), Megget (Nelly), and "Cheeseburger" Eddy (Terry Crews). In a cool nod to the original, this 2005 remake stars a rugged ex-football star played by Burt Reynolds, while Sandler takes over the role of the main protagonist played by Reynolds in the '74 film.
This movie runs with the fairly typical "underdog sports film" narrative, while adding plenty of goofy Adam Sandler-style zaniness to it. It even throws in some emotionally darker moments that seem somewhat out of place in a movie full of slapstick, but add some depth regardless.
Just Go With It (6.4)
Ever since the success of The Wedding Singer, Adam Sandler has been a part of quite a few rom-coms, most of which have fallen a degree or two short of the charm and wit of that film. While Just Go With It does have a few amusing bits, and some decent chemistry between Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, the plot is pretty nonsensical and "on the nose," to say the least. It's doesn't typically bode well for a narrative when you can pretty much predict the outcome from the trailer.
In this film, Danny, played by Sandler, uses an old wedding ring as a prop to garner sympathy from young women he's looking to get with, making up sob stories about failed marriages and unfaithful partners. He enlists the help of Katherine (Aniston) to play the role of his soon-to-be ex-wife.
The Wedding Singer (6.8)
Marking the first major film in which Sandler ventures into "rom-com" territory, The Wedding Singer nonetheless stands as one of the funnier films featuring the SNL alum, decorated with plenty of 80's flair. Besides this, the film utilizes more emotional depth and dramatic moments than most Sander comedies, along with some fun musical bits that add some character.
Aside from an admirable performance by Sandler himself who plays the protagonist, Robbie, there's also a likable cast with some great performances by Drew Barrymore as Julia, and Allen Covert as Robbie's Fonzie-wannabe friend.
50 First Dates (6.8)
In a romantic comedy that at least contains more of a distinct, occasionally clever plot than a certain Just Go With It, 50 First Dates reprises the romantic pairing of Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in a far wackier premise.
To its credit, the movie avoids cliches, at least to a degree, by playing with the idea of a romance being thrown various curveballs as a result of Lucy's (Barrymore) unique condition. Sandler's "ladies man" persona is put to the test when he finds that Lucy is completely missing a short-term memory. These conditions make for a love story with plenty of hurdles, which actually adds to its enduring nature. Obviously, this sets things up for some goofy antics, that at least sometimes hit their mark.
Happy Gilmore (7.0)
This is the classic Sandler comedy at its best, and bears many Happy Madison hallmarks - funny cameos, slapstick humor, and ample product placement; though not to the point of being insultingly blatant like, say, the cringe-worthy Jack & Jill. Unlike many Sandler flicks of the modern era, Happy Gilmore knows when to floor it into the realm of zaniness, and when to pull back somewhat.
The movie features a number of crazy rage moments from our short-fused protagonist, silly one-liners, and goofy physical comedy that verges on violent at times. It's silly, but it's enjoyable - and that's no easy feat considering it centers around golf, of all things. Heck, the boxing match between Gilmore and legendary host Bob Barker alone is reason enough to watch this.
Punch-Drunk Love (7.3)
Punch-Drunk Love stands as the first time in which Adam Sandler takes on the role of a serious protagonist in a serious film. Yes, the guy known for singing about lunch menu items at school actually stars in a film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the man responsible for the deep melodrama, Magnolia. But evidently this is a match that works, considering the quality of this film.
This isn't an "Adam Sandler" film so much as it's an art film featuring Sandler. Regardless, the ex-SNL cast member does a great job as Barry Egan, a paranoid introvert with an intensity that verges on eeriness. The strength of this character is crucial too, given the lack of significant events throughout the film. The trippy, uneasy atmosphere and acting certainly carry Punch-Drunk Love more than the narrative, but they're both distinct and powerful.
Reign Over Me (7.4)
Reign Over Me is quite possibly the best film - dramatic or otherwise - featuring Sandler since Punch-Drunk Love, without relying on an avant-garde plot and cinematography to stand out. Yet, its narrative is still pretty unique and heartfelt, revolving around a downtrodden protagonist whose life was shattered following the September 11 World Trade Center attacks.
The film runs with some memorable characters and the dynamic friendship between the main character, Charlie, and his old roommate, Alan. While it's a rich drama, there are still plenty of chuckle-worthy bits of comedy to lighten the mood and balance the scales.
Uncut Gems (7.7)
Directed by Benny and Josh Safdie, Uncut Gems once again proves that Adam Sandler's dramatic performances often serve as the true showcase of his talent. Not that he should stop making people laugh, but doing more dramatic roles certainly wouldn't hurt. Sandler stars as Howard Ratner, a fast-talking, charismatic New York City jeweler who makes a bet that could set him for life. If things go wrong though, that life could end.
Many were shocked when Sandler didn't get nominated for an Oscar, although he did win several other acting awards for his work, showing that his performance didn't go unnoticed. It certainly didn't by IMDB users, with Uncut Gems rocketing to the top of this list in record time.