Adam Sandler is a unique actor; his skills as a funny man are remarkable, and once a decade he also proves that he can do spectacular dramatic work with great directors like Paul Thomas Anderson or the Safdie Brothers. Sandler’s talent is a gift from the comedy gods and should be celebrated. Here are Adam Sandler’s funniest movies, ranked.
9/9 Funny People (2009)
Universal images
In Funny People, Sandler plays George Simmons, a famous comedy star who seems to have everything he might possibly want. When he is diagnosed with an incurable disease that will kill him in less than a year, George decides to return to his roots and start doing stand-up comedy in comedy clubs. There he meets Ira (Seth Rogen) and hires him as his personal assistant and friend. While this film might also be categorized as a serious performance, the stand-up part of the film is so funny that it deserves to be on this list. Director Judd Apatow had lived with Sandler when the two were young and had no careers, and here you can feel the adoration he feels for his pal, and how he knows Sandler can do more than just his public persona shows, resulting in a film that, while a bit too long, perfectly mixes laughter and heart, creating an incredible role for his friend Sandler.
8/9 The week of (2018)
Netflix
The Week Of tells the story of Kenny Lustig (Sandler), the father of the bride who doesn’t have as much means as the wealthy and emotionally distant parents of the man his daughter is going to marry. This film is a slice-of-life movie that James L. Brooks or Robert Altman might have made decades ago, but with more jokes, showing the vulnerability Sandler can play as a man doing whatever he can. and more, for the benefit of his family. Co-written and directed by Rober Smiegel of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, The Week Of is funny and sweet, showing Sandler’s evolution over the years. He went from man-child Sandler to daddy Sandler, making his movies more personal and thoughtful, while still having some rude jokes, because some things never change.
7/9 Petit Nicky (2000)
New line cinema
Nicky (Sandler), the smallest son of the mild-mannered Devil (Harvey Keitel) must travel to New York and find his creepy older brothers before they destroy the city and take their fathers’ throne as new rulers of hell. Before Little Nicky, Sandler was on a roll, and everything he did was an incredible box office success. With this film, he swung for the fences and failed spectacularly, as the film failed with both critics and audiences. Watching the movie now, there were some great ideas, but the movie didn’t work out as expected. Even then, it was a good effort from Sandler trying to do a different kind of comedy; where the fate of the world is decided in Madison Square Garden.
6/9 Grand papa (1999)
Sony Pictures release
Sonny Koufax (Sandler) is a law graduate redneck who, when his girlfriend leaves him, has the idea of adopting a five-year-old child to prove to her that he has grown up. Living with the child does him much more than he expected. Big Daddy has both jokes and heartwarming moments, as Sandler’s man-child can get weirdly deep when hanging out with a real kid. The kid brings out his sweetness and sensitivity, making it a complete movie, even if the courtroom ending is a little too melodramatic. The film was released in 1999, and since then the child and the rest of the cast have continued to work steadily.
5/9 Don’t Mess With the Zohan (2008)
Sony Pictures release
Don’t Mess With the Zohan is an action comedy regarding Zohan (Sandler), an Israeli counter-terrorist who becomes a hairdresser in New York. The premise may sound like a skit from Saturday Night Live, but Sandler commits to it, making funny joke following funny hummus joke, showing off some of his Jewish heritage, and having fun doing it. The comedy is very specific in its jokes, using stereotypes to create a lived-in character and make it feel more real (or as real as a muscled barber who can kill you 34 different ways). It was the most conceptual movie Sandler has done since Little Nicky, and this time it worked.
4/9 Le Waterboy (1998)
Photos of Buena Vista
The Waterboy tells the story of Bobby Boucher, the waterboy of a college football team who, once he discovers his ability to tackle, becomes the star of the team. Sandler has always been known to use outbursts of rage for comedic effect, and this movie is the logical ending for that kind of character, as Bobby Boucher is both an innocent innocent and a rabid psychopath. The Waterboy is one of Sandler’s funniest films, with jokes galore (many have become gifs), where he uses the sports formula to create a weird southern character, who is a mama’s boy and wants to be good at something. It was one of Sandler’s biggest box office hits at the time, making him a movie star, and he repeatedly admitted he would happily make a sequel.
3/9 The Wedding Singer (1998)
New line cinema
Robbie (Sandler) sings 80s hits at weddings and Julia (Drew Barrymore) waits at those events. Both are preparing for their wedding. When they meet, it is obvious that they are making a mistake by marrying other people and that they should be together. The Wedding Singer is a cute and romantic film where Sandler proved he might be a charismatic and romantic man. His partnership with Barrymore makes him better, as he’s more present and they have believable chemistry, thanks to his abilities. That’s why they reworked together on 50 First Dates and Blended. Barrymore’s character has her own agency and drama arc, creating a lovable person all on her own. The Wedding Singer is a bit more grown-up for Sandler; there are some silly jokes, but they’re not the focus of the movie, they’re an addition while showing what it means to grow up, even if it’s on your own terms, giving us one of the best marriage proposals ever. all times.
2/9 Billy Madison (1995)
Universal images
Billy Madison is the story of the character of the same name, played by Sandler, who to get his father’s hotel chain, must repeat primary school (two weeks for each year). This is Sandler’s man-child masterpiece, full of improvised bits, loud moments, memorable appearances from Norm MacDonald, Chris Farley and Steve Buscemi, and perfect for revisiting while being with friends. friends. Director Tamra Davis told The Washington Post, “A lot of strangers but the most frequently quoted scenes in ‘Billy Madison’ were unplanned. I don’t remember the “shampoo is better” conversation Adam has with himself in the script, but that’s what happened when Adam was loose and having fun.
1/9 Happy Gilmore (1996)
Universal images
Happy Gilmore (Sandler) is a hockey scion with the most powerful drive in golf, so he joins the PGA to earn money and save his grandmother’s house. Unfortunately, the hockey player mentality and taunts don’t go so well with the upper class mentality of golf. This film is one of Sandler’s best non-Netflix films and the top three of his entire career. Sandler is the only one who can turn psychopaths into adorable goofy pals, being the angry clown and making comedic rage a good trait to have. This slobs-vs-snobs movie is full of quotes, but there’s a recognizable human trait, even in his arrested development, Happy Gilmore just wants to be loved and will do anything for the people he loves and cares regarding. care, the consequences be cursed. Bob Barker wanted to fight Sandler in the film, and this scene is the icing on the cake for Happy Gilmore, one of the most memorable of Sandler’s career.
