Adam Sandler has stated that he wants to start his own cinematic universe, but an intricate fan theory suggests that a "Sandlerverse" is already in effect. The actor has been one of the major faces of comedy for the better part of three decades, rising to prominence in the early '90s as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. In 1995, Sandler headlined his first solo movie with the debut of Billy Madison. Fast forward to 2020 and he's in the midst of a multi-film Netflix mega-deal. The longer Sandler's résumé becomes, the deeper his own established multiverse gets.
Following the release of Billy Madison, Sandler starred as a hockey player-turned-golfer in Happy Gilmore. From there, he appeared in The Wedding Singer, The Waterboy, and Big Daddy. Not only did Sandler play memorable caricature-type figures, but he managed to feature a recurring set of co-stars like Rob Schneider, Allen Covert, Peter Dante, and Blake Clark. Shortly before the release of Little Nicky, Sandler founded Happy Madison Productions, a company that supported his own film and TV projects in addition to those of his many Hollywood friends. Heading into the 2000s, Sandler went on to continue churning out hits like Mr. Deeds, 50 First Dates, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Grown Ups, and Blended.
While many of Sandler's movies were well-received with critics, his loyal followers continued his comedy dominance. Much of that had to do with the fact that he incorporated running gags and returning figures into his projects. Shawn Kohne (via YouTube) even put together a Sandlerverse breakdown, revealing how deeply Sandler's films connect through multiple timelines. For example, Schneider's "you can do it" townie from The Waterboy made a return in Little Nicky before Sandler took over the same role in the former's film, The Animal. The disheveled caddy from Happy Gilmore also appeared in Jack & Jill while the pro-golfer Chubbs cameoed was seen in heaven in Little Nicky. Other characters who have appeared in multiple movies included 10-second Tom, Officer Jack Pugh, and Eric Lamonsoff. Despite Sandler's comments regarding interest in making his own Sandlerverse, it's already well underway.
Hubie Halloween Further Supports The "Sandlerverse"
Sandler's original Netflix partnership began with the release of The Ridiculous 6 in 2015. Though it didn't consist of many connections to his previous work, it did feature returning co-stars such as David Spade, Rob Schneider, Steve Buscemi, and Terry Crews. In his next Netflix film, The Do-Over, Sandler made sure to include the name Vicki Valencourt, which was his character's love interest in The Waterboy. Sandy Wexler featured a slew of prominent Happy Madison Productions actors in addition to the mention of Eric Lamonsoff, a character played by Kevin James. That name was once again mentioned in 2019's Murder Mystery.
As of 2020, Sandler signed another four-picture deal with Netflix worth up to $275 million. His latest comedy, Hubie Halloween, stands as part of the extended partnership. The movie, which features several notable faces, adds evidence to the existing Sandlerverse. The Halloween-themed movie begins with the return of Ben Stiller's Happy Gilmore character, Hal L., the sadistic orderly. The new movie also keeps the tradition of the O'Doyle family serving as the resident bullies. With more Adam Sandler projects on tap, fans can expect even more evidence to the Sandlerverse theory.