Punch Drunk Love
Adam Sandler’s 2002 film is a romance, which is a stray away from his usual goofy stuff. He plays Barry Egan, a guy who’s a bit lost in life and has a pretty overbearing family. After a series of unfortunate events (no seriously, we’re not just referencing that movie), he picks up a stranger, a certain Hermoine Granger. Well not her, but Emma Watson.
It was a great flick; even critics like Roger Ebert gave it praise. On Sandler’s performance in his review for the Chicago Sun Times he was quoted saying, “Sandler, liberated from the constraints of formula, reveals unexpected depths as an actor.” Sandler went on to win Best Actor at the Gijon International Film Festival for his performance and was also nominated for a Golden Globe.
Funny People
This one’s got a treasure trove of stars. Directed by Judd Apatow, it features Sandler of course, along with Leslie Mann and Seth Rogan. The film was released on July 31, 2009 and received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the script, the direction and the performances of Sandler and Rogen, although criticism was directed towards the film’s excessive runtime.
It takes a slightly personal route, in that all of the comedians in the film are actually playing comedians in the film. Whoa…
The Wedding Singer
A classic! Sandler plays a washed up wedding singer who, after getting dumped at the altar, has quite the broken heart. I mean, wouldn’t you? Then, he meets a beautiful catering waitress at a wedding, and falls madly in love. She really turns his world around but there’s one catch- she’s not exactly available.
The film was produced by Robert Simonds for $18 million and grossed $80.2 million in the United States and $123.3 million worldwide.
50 First Dates
Six years after their roles in The Wedding Singer, Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler reunited in this heartwarming movie. Barrymore plays a woman with short term memory loss, and when she goes on a date with Sandler, a veterinarian, she can’t remember him the next day.
Prompting them to go on a few first dates, fifty of them to be exact. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, do so now. Its even got a penguin in it!
Happy Gilmore
This movie will make you laugh so hard you might actually pee your pants. Sandler plays Happy Gilmore, a hockey obsessed fan who loves only one thing more than he does the ice sport: his grandma. So to help her reclaim her house after the bank takes it away, Gilmore switches from the hockey rink to the golf course to compete for a cash prize in a tournament.
Bob Barker, the legendary host of Wheel of Fortune, even makes a guest appearance! The film was released in cinemas on February 16, 1996 by Universal Pictures. Happy Gilmore was a commercial success, earning $41.2 million on a $12 million budget.
Air Heads
This 1994 flick has Sandler, Brendan Frasier and Steve Buscemi as a band of loser musicians who stage a hijacking of a radio station in order to get airplay for their demo recording.
Their names are the best part of the movie: Pip, Rex and Chazz. Joe Mantegna, Michael McKean, Ernie Hudson and Michael Richards play supporting roles.
Bedtime Stories
A more recent film, Bedtime Stories is an American family-fantasy-comedy film that showcases Sandler in his first appearance in a family-oriented movie.
Despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics, it was a box office success after earning $212.9 million against a $80 million budget. In the movie, Sandler play Skeeter Bronson, a hotel handyman who can make his bedtime stories come to life.
Don’t Mess with the Zohan
This is movie where Sandler lets out his crazier side. In this movie he portrays The Zohan, an Israeli Mossad agent who comes to New York City undercover, hiding from people who want him dead. His cover? A hairdresser of course.
The Zohan works at a beauty salon and transforms women’s hair and live (he also takes them to bed). If you haven’t watched this movie yet, prepare for some really hilarious moments.
Hotel Transylvania
This 2012 Sony Productions movie won hearts young and old. In the aftermath of the death of Dracula’s wife Martha, Count Dracula (Sandler) builds a massive five-star hotel in Transylvania in which he raises his daughter Mavis (played by Selena Gomez).
The hotel serves as a safe-place for the world’s monsters to gather without fear of human persecution. This film was such a hit with audiences that a sequel, Hotel Transylvania: 2 was released quickly afterwards!
