The Five Best Films Starring Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler has shown to be a very capable actor when he is not performing in comedic comedies. Men, Women, and Children is a prime example of his acting ability, as it is a remarkably serious film that showcases his talent. In this amusing sports comedy, an ineffective hockey player uncovers his aptitude for golf. Add a fistfight with Bob Barker, and you have the makings of a classic film.
1. The Hangover
This raunchy comedy is one of the best R-rated comedies ever made. The movie swept the nation in 2009 and spawned two sequels. The film has a solid three act structure and is hilarious from start to finish.
Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis star in The Hangover, which follows a group of guys at their most irresponsible. They go to Vegas for Stu’s bachelor party, and then wake up with no memory of what happened. The boys must retrace their hazy steps to find Doug before the wedding.
The lookmovie film is funny on its own, but it’s even more amusing when you know that some of the facts behind it are true. For example, Ed Helms never had an adult incisor tooth, so he used a dummy to fake it for the film. He is now known for his role in the Arrested Development series and the digital talk show Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.
2. The Other Guys
Despite its 131-minute runtime, this silly movie manages to be one of Sandler’s most endearing films. This flick follows a bumbling talent agent who finds his big break when he discovers a talented singer toiling onstage at a theme park kids show.
It’s also one of the few movies that shows Sandler can do more than slapstick comedy. But it’s important to note this film is still filled with language and crude humor.
The highest-grossing movie on this list is a delightful family film, starring Sandler and Ben Stiller. It’s the second installment of the Hotel Transylvania franchise, and it was an instant hit with viewers. The film is a hilarious take on family dysfunction. But it’s also a touching story about finding and maintaining a close friendship. It earned a 64% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was a major turning point in Sandler’s career.
3. The Wedding Ringer
Kevin Hart’s rapid-fire wit is evident throughout The Wedding Ringer, but it’s not enough to make up for the movie’s uneven tone. There are moments of rampant homophobia (a dog licks peanut butter off the groom’s genitals during his bachelor party) and nonsensical jokes about prison rape and dudes getting blowjobs for drug money.
Socially awkward Doug Harris (Josh Gad) hires professional best man Jimmy Callahan (Kevin Hart) to help him find fake groomsmen for his upcoming nuptials with Gretchen Palmer (The Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting). Directed by Jeremy Garelick and co-written by Jay Lavender, this bromantic comedy hits theaters on January 16 during the slow Martin Luther King Day weekend. Alan Ritchson, Cloris Leachman and Nicky Whelan also star in the Screen Gems release.
4. Uncut Gems
One of Sandler’s more underrated serious movies, this 2002 film from Paul Thomas Anderson proved he had dramatic chops as well. As a jeweler named Howard Ratner, Sandler delivers a manic performance that toys with the audience’s empathy, disgust and pity.
Featuring a rare black opal that’s worth millions, Uncut Gems is a heist drama with a touch of insanity and plenty of comedy. Joshua and Benny Safdie, directors of the 2017 Robert Pattinson heist thriller Good Time, bring their trademark hazy style to this one.
It premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in August, earning praise for its intense performances. Watch the trailer below (NSFW). Out Dec. 13. A24.
5. The Other Guys
An easy, breezy film that’s a step up from the more slapstick schtick that had audiences flocking to Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore. Sandler and Aniston have real chemistry as the playfully bickering detectives who investigate the murder of a European heiress, as well as a gangster’s crooked business deals.
The film’s final scene, in which Hubie confesses to his psychiatrist about masturbating with a stuffed rabbit, is a touching and honest moment that elevates the movie above many of the other comedies on this list. And Ray Liotta’s performance as one of the gangster’s biggest bullies is unforgettable.
Adam Sandler’s first Netflix project is also his worst. This Western spoof is a snoozer full of lame jokes. Even Vanilla Ice’s cameo as Mark Twain can’t save this one. This film marked the beginning of Sandler’s shift away from slapstick comedy and into more dramatic roles.
