Top 10 Adam Sandler Movies

#10: Just Go with It (2011)

While much of Adam Sandlers mid-career output was critically panned (and, in some cases, borderline unwatchable), Just Go With It stands out as a rare exception. Pairing Sandler with longtime friend Jennifer Aniston proved to be a stroke of casting genius, as the duos effortless chemistry anchors what couldve otherwise been a throwaway rom-com. The setup is ludicrous a plastic surgeon roping his assistant into posing as his soon-to-be-divorced wife to win over a younger woman but the film leans into the absurdity with Sandlers trademark charm, rather than desperation. Add a predictably scene-stealing turn from Nicole Kidman and some lush Hawaiian backdrops, and Just Go With It emerges as arguably the most entertaining in Sandlers often-maligned 2010s output.

#9: Click (2006)

This unexpectedly moving fantasy is one of the few Adam Sandler comedies that actually tries and largely succeeds at being more than just a delivery system for crude jokes and celebrity cameos. At its core, the film is a cautionary tale about a man who fast-forwards through life with the help of a magical remote control, only to realize too late what hes lost. While it hits plenty of broad comedic beats early on, Click gradually shifts into surprisingly heavy emotional territory, and Sandler meets the moment with one of his more restrained performances. The result isnt perfect the tonal swings are jarring at times but its an ambitious swing that pays off, and wont leave you channel surfing.

#8: 50 First Dates (2004)

Not everything about 50 First Dates has aged gracefully Rob Schneiders supporting role is a cultural relic best left in the early 2000s, and its central premise treads a fine line between sweet and ethically questionable. But what continues to shine is the undeniable chemistry between Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Reuniting after The Wedding Singer, the two elevate the material with a genuine warmth and emotional sincerity. Sandler tones down his usual man-child routine, while Barrymore brings empathy and charm to a character who couldve easily been played for cheap sentiment or easy laughs. Their connection is the heart of the film, and its strong enough to keep 50 First Dates eminently watchable even when the rest of it feels stuck in the past.

#7: Big Daddy (1999)

At first glance, Big Daddy might seem like standard-issue Sandler: loaded with immature jokes and characters who behave like overgrown adolescents. But beneath the gross-out gags lie one of the earliest glimpses of the actors softer, more sentimental side. As Sonny Koufax, an underachieving slacker who takes in a young boy to impress his ex, Sandler brings unexpected heart to a role that avoids being pure caricature. His bond with young Julian played alternately by Cole and Dylan Sprouse in their feature debut forms the emotional backbone of the film, revealing a capacity for tenderness that would come to define some of his later, more dramatic work. Big Daddy may not be subtle, but its proof that even in his juvenile phase, Sandler had depth.

#6: The Waterboy (1998)

By no means subtle or particularly nuanced The Waterboy nonetheless became a bona fide cult classic, owing to its absurd energy, colorful supporting cast, and a full-throttle Sandler performance. Loosely inspired by his Canteen Boy character from Saturday Night Live, Sandlers Bobby Boucher is a socially stunted, overprotected mamas boy who channels his bottled-up rage into gridiron greatness. Theres an infectious, cartoonish charm to the whole affair that struck a chord with audiences, as Kathy Bates, Henry Winkler, and a parade of eccentric characters turn what couldve been throwaway material into something oddly memorable. The Waterboy is quintessential Sandler weird, loud, and, against all odds, totally endearing.

#5: The Wedding Singer (1998)

Coming off a string of, well, Sandleresque comedies, The Wedding Singer marked a surprising and welcome pivot for Adam Sandler. Set in the neon-soaked excess of the 1980s, the film trades in slapstick for sincerity, showcasing a romantic and sentimental side of Sandler that audiences hadnt seen before. As the lovelorn Robbie Hart, Sandler dials down the antics and turns up the charm, creating a genuinely heartfelt character whose chemistry with Drew Barrymore is effortlessly sweet and believable. Their dynamic became the gold standard for Sandlers rom-com pairings warm, funny, and emotionally grounded. With its killer soundtrack and soft-focus nostalgia, The Wedding Singer stands out as one of the most emotionally resonant entries in Sandlers filmography.

#4: Billy Madison (1995)

The film that started it all. Billy Madison wasnt simply Adam Sandlers first leading role it was his declaration of comedic intent. Released ahead of his unceremonious SNL firing, the movie gave Sandler the platform to unleash his brand of absurdist, cartoonish humor without restraint. Playing a rich man-child forced to repeat grades one through twelve to earn his inheritance, Sandler doubled down on the weird voices, surreal gags, and over-the-top shenanigans that would become his trademark. Critics werent kind, but audiences latched on immediately, turning the film into a cult hit and catapulting Sandler to overnight stardom. Love it or hate it, Billy Madison laid the blueprint for everything that came after.

#3: Happy Gilmore (1996)

If Billy Madison introduced the world to Adam Sandlers manic energy, Happy Gilmore refined it into something sharper, funnier, and undeniably iconic. As the hockey reject-turned-golf prodigy with a killer slapshot, Sandler delivers one of his most quotable performances: equal parts rage, heart, and barely contained chaos. The film thrives on its ridiculous premise, cartoonish violence, and a stacked lineup of memorable side characters, including Christopher McDonalds unforgettably smarmy Shooter McGavin. Even moviegoers who werent fans of golf found something to love in this sports comedy fever dream. Nearly three decades later, Happy Gilmore 2 proved to be more than nostalgia bait: it reminded us why this angry golfer became a comedy legend in the first place.

#2: Uncut Gems (2019)

A world away from goofy voices and romantic hijinks, Uncut Gems marked a radical left turn in Adam Sandlers career, and a masterstroke of castingDirected by the Safdie brothers, this anxiety-inducing crime thriller follows a manic New York jeweler with a gambling fixation and a death wish named Howard Ratner, played by Sandler with nerve-shredding intensity. It's a performance that stunned even his harshest critics: jittery, desperate, and electric, without a trace of his usual shtick. Critics hailed it as the role of his career, and while the Academy infamously passed him over, the omission only amplified the films legend. Gritty, relentless, and wildly unpredictable, Uncut Gems didnt just reinvent Sandler: it reminded everyone what he was truly capable of.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Mr. Deeds (2002)

Reign Over Me (2007)

You Dont Mess With the Zohan (2008)

Grown Ups (2010)

Murder Mystery (2019)

#1: Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

Long before Uncut Gems, it was Punch-Drunk Love that first dared to ask: what if Adam Sandler wasnt just a belligerent manchild? Paul Thomas Anderson, one of modern cinemas most revered filmmakers, specifically sought Sandler out, convinced there was something deeply human beneath his comedy. He wasnt wrong. As Barry Egan, a lonely, emotionally volatile novelty plunger salesman, Sandler delivers a quiet, aching performance that channels his trademark frustration into something raw and real. The film retains flashes of the Sandler wed known (awkward, angry, hilarious), but frames them in a surreal, artful context that redefined what he could do on screen. It was the first time audiences saw him in a different light and realized he could shine.

Which Sandler joint is your favorite? Are there any we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!