Adam Sandler's comedies have been notoriously hated online, but 10 of his movies wrongly have terrible scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Sandler has been making comedies for decades, and while some are definitely better than others, many of his films are undeservedly panned. While many of Sandler's Rotten Tomatoes scores make sense, these 10 comedies are far too underrated.
Sandler is a comedian and filmmaker that has been in all kinds of movies, ranging from comedies to critically-acclaimed dramas. His first feature film was 1989's Going Overboard, which is famously panned. However, after joining Saturday Night Live and boosting his career, Sandler went on to have a string of beloved comedies, including Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, and several others. Sandler's Happy Madison Productions continued to make high-profile comedies up until he made the jump to dramas with movies like Uncut Gems. That said, these Sandler movies don't deserve their low Rotten Tomatoes scores.
Murder Mystery (2019) - 44% Rotten Tomatoes Score
2019's Murder Mystery is currently only sitting at 44% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it deserves way higher. As the title implies, Murder Mystery successfully pulls off all the conventions of a murder mystery, with its engaging story and unique setting working well as a genre film. Murder Mystery has a pretty big cast, including the likes of Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Luke Evans, and more, all of whom give strong performances. Sandler is returning for Murder Mystery 2, meaning that the film was popular enough to garner a sequel. Despite this, the original Murder Mystery is stuck with a pretty measly Rotten Tomatoes score.
Hubie Halloween (2020) - 51%
Hubie Halloween is another film born out of Sandler's deal with Netflix, and despite it being pretty good, it only has a 51% on Rotten Tomatoes. This is sad because Hubie Halloween is anything but a generic comedy. The film has a hilariously campy tone, with it homaging many horror movies and tropes. Sandler is often criticized for just playing himself, but his role as Hubie Dubois is far different from anything he's done before. Hubie Halloween is also star-studded, featuring Steve Buscemi, Peyton List, Tim Meadows, Ben Stiller, and even one of Ray Liotta's last performances, making its low score on the Tomatometer quite a shame.
Pixels (2015) - 18%
Although it didn't get a sequel, Sandler's Pixels was a huge blockbuster, with it being much bigger than many of his other Happy Madison comedies. Pixels only has 18% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it really deserves so much more. Pixels is a pretty historic movie, as it features the first live-action appearances of loads of popular arcade characters, including Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Q*Bert, and several others. It also replaces Sandler's typical cast of friends with actors like Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad, with this being the start of his more ambitious films. 2016's Pixels may not be the best action comedy ever made, but it doesn't warrant 18%.
Grown Ups 2 (2013) - 8%
Grown Ups 2 also has a terrible Rotten Tomatoes score, currently sitting at an 8%. Once again, the Grown Ups sequel may not be a masterpiece, but it certainly deserves better than 8%. Grown Ups 2 is a Grown Ups sequel, meaning that everyone already knew what they were getting when they went in. It's odd to get disappointed at Sandler and his friends getting into goofy situations, as the film made no secret as to what it was. An 8% on Rotten Tomatoes seems needlessly low for Grown Ups 2, as it did its job for what it was.
Hotel Transylvania (2012) - 44%
Hotel Transylvania's low Rotten Tomatoes score is wild, as it only has a 44%. The film was beloved enough to start a whole franchise consisting of four movies, a TV show, and several shorts. Because of this, Hotel Transylvania's low Rotten Tomatoes score just doesn't make sense. The film has a unique and energetic art style, a fun story, and a great cast. Hotel Transylvania is easily Sony Pictures Animation's biggest franchise, and while later movies like Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (which was missing Sandler) have fair scores, 44% is too low for the original.
Zookeeper (2011) - 14%
Although Sandler doesn't star in Zookeeper, with Kevin James taking the lead, he is an actor in the film and voices Donald the Monkey, as one of many celebrities that provide animal voices in the film. Zookeeper is a fun family comedy, but it only has a 14% on Rotten Tomatoes. It has a sweet story, an interesting setting, and some pretty impressive animals and animal effects. Once again, Zookeeper is no masterpiece, but to have it down at 14% seems far too low for what it is.
Bedtime Stories (2008) - 27%
Disney's Bedtime Stories is actually a really good and creative movie, but it only has a 27% on Rotten Tomatoes. It's one of Sandler's more family-friendly movies, and it is the perfect fantastical story that fits right in with the rest of Disney's catalog. Bedtime Stories' score deserves to be much higher, as the film is criminally underrated.
Click (2006) - 34%
Click is one of Sandler's more popular movies, but it only has a 34% on Rotten Tomatoes. The strongest aspect of the movie is its creativity, with the film taking the concept of a universal remote and pushing it to its absolute limit. It also has an incredibly bittersweet ending, featuring some genuine heart that isn't seen in many of Sandler's other movies. Click is one of Sandler's better outings, and it deserves a much higher score because of it.
Billy Madison (1995) - 41%
Sandler's hilarious Billy Madison is easily one of the actor's most iconic films, with it really defining his early career. However, the comedy only has a 41% on Rotten Tomatoes despite it being a fan-favorite. Billy Madison really kicked off the Happy Madison era of comedy that was at its peak in the early 2010s, and because of its historical effect alone, it deserves a higher score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Airheads (1994) - 29%
Although it is often forgotten, Sandler's Airheads is a great movie from his early career. Airheads only has a 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, and that number could definitely use a boost. Alongside Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, and a host of other A-list comedians, Sandler is really the standout of Airheads. Airheads not only needs a higher Rotten Tomatoes score, but it also needs more recognition in general, as it is a milestone in the career of Adam Sandler.
