Critics will tell you that Adam Sandler’s movies are a) adolescent; b) obnoxious; c) vulgar; d moronic; or e) all of the above. Here’s another thing they’ll tell you – his films make money. (A couple of them are also ranked among the worst comedies of all time.)
To determine the best and worst movies with Adam Sandler, 24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of September 2022, weighting all ratings equally. Only movies where Adam Sandler was credited among the leading four actors on IMDb were considered. Directorial data is from IMDb.
The “Saturday Night Live’ alum has parlayed roles in films featuring mostly sophomoric, bathroom humor into a lucrative movie career. Fifteen movies in which he’s appeared – frequently with comedy buddies like Rob Schneider, David Spade, and Kevin James – have grossed more than $100 million each. (These are the highest-grossing R-rated movies of all time.)
In addition to movies some critics have called “repellent” and “homophobic,” Sandler has dipped his toe into the rom-com genre. He’s been paired with Drew Barrymore in romantic comedies such as “The Wedding Singer,” “Blended,” and “50 First Dates,” and he’s appeared in other rom-coms such as “Mr. Deeds,” “Big Daddy,” and “Billy Madison.”
Perhaps Sandler is getting the last laugh on those who’ve pilloried his film career. Three movies he’s made within the last three years have earned Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer critics’ scores of 90% or above. The critics hailed his performance as a jeweler with a gambling addiction in “Uncut Gems,” for instance, saying that the thriller “proves Adam Sandler remains a formidable dramatic actor when given the right material.”
42. Going Overboard (1989)
> IMDb user rating: 1.8/10 (13,166 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 11% (12,465 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 0% (4 reviews)
> Directed by: Valerie Breiman
41. Jack and Jill (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 3.3/10 (81,224 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 36% (68,795 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 3% (116 reviews)
> Directed by: Dennis Dugan
40. The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 4.8/10 (46,684 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 34% (3,429 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 0% (36 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Coraci
39. The Cobbler (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10 (54,294 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 36% (9,494 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 10% (72 reviews)
> Directed by: Tom McCarthy
38. The Do-Over (2016)
> IMDb user rating: 5.7/10 (43,347 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 42% (2,321 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 9% (23 reviews)
> Directed by: Steven Brill
37. Bulletproof (1996)
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10 (37,551 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 44% (74,966 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 8% (39 reviews)
> Directed by: Ernest R. Dickerson
36. The Week Of (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 5.2/10 (20,359 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 35% (633 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 27% (26 reviews)
> Directed by: Robert Smigel
35. Eight Crazy Nights (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 5.3/10 (22,328 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 49% (289,703 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 12% (109 reviews)
> Directed by: Seth Kearsley
34. Grown Ups 2 (2013)
> IMDb user rating: 5.4/10 (146,291 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 53% (181,083 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 8% (115 reviews)
> Directed by: Dennis Dugan
33. Sandy Wexler (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 5.2/10 (15,908 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 39% (926 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 27% (22 reviews)
> Directed by: Steven Brill
32. Pixels (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 5.5/10 (137,099 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 46% (70,097 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 17% (204 reviews)
> Directed by: Chris Columbus
31. That’s My Boy (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 5.5/10 (95,042 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 51% (121,857 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 20% (115 reviews)
> Directed by: Sean Anders
30. Little Nicky (2000)
> IMDb user rating: 5.3/10 (101,788 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 55% (460,430 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 21% (114 reviews)
> Directed by: Steven Brill
29. Grown Ups (2010)
> IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (236,265 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62% (271,008 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 11% (169 reviews)
> Directed by: Dennis Dugan
28. Airheads (1994)
> IMDb user rating: 6.1/10 (48,377 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 50% (126,210 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 23% (35 reviews)
> Directed by: Michael Lehmann
27. You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 5.5/10 (195,781 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 45% (410,719 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 37% (190 reviews)
> Directed by: Dennis Dugan
26. Mr. Deeds (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 5.8/10 (140,021 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 59% (738,435 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 22% (153 reviews)
> Directed by: Steven Brill
25. Bedtime Stories (2008)
> IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (91,279 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 55% (216,547 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 27% (112 reviews)
> Directed by: Adam Shankman
24. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 5.9/10 (143,974 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 69% (1,307,682 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 15% (165 reviews)
> Directed by: Dennis Dugan
23. Just Go with It (2011)
> IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (230,398 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 59% (88,670 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 19% (139 reviews)
> Directed by: Dennis Dugan
22. Blended (2014)
> IMDb user rating: 6.5/10 (125,533 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 64% (53,401 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 15% (140 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Coraci
21. Hubie Halloween (2020)
> IMDb user rating: 5.2/10 (43,244 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 43% (1,514 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 53% (81 reviews)
> Directed by: Steven Brill
20. Murder Mystery (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (113,003 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 43% (1,138 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 44% (68 reviews)
> Directed by: Kyle Newacheck
19. The Longest Yard (2005)
> IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (169,218 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 62% (32,774,364 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 31% (170 reviews)
> Directed by: Peter Segal
18. Anger Management (2003)
> IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (208,850 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 60% (745,917 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 42% (194 reviews)
> Directed by: Peter Segal
17. Click (2006)
> IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (316,296 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 66% (874,924 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 34% (174 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Coraci
16. The Waterboy (1998)
> IMDb user rating: 6.1/10 (154,911 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 71% (910,858 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 34% (76 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Coraci
15. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)
> IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (63,937 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 48% (3,564 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 62% (119 reviews)
> Directed by: Genndy Tartakovsky
14. Big Daddy (1999)
> IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (207,131 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 74% (1,052,285 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 39% (94 reviews)
> Directed by: Dennis Dugan
13. Spanglish (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (81,770 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 60% (200,998 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 53% (169 reviews)
> Directed by: James L. Brooks
12. 50 First Dates (2004)
> IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (338,845 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 65% (32,700,188 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 45% (176 reviews)
> Directed by: Peter Segal
11. Funny People (2009)
> IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (116,828 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 48% (845,089 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 69% (238 reviews)
> Directed by: Judd Apatow
10. Billy Madison (1995)
> IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (136,961 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (765,982 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 42% (48 reviews)
> Directed by: Tamra Davis
9. Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
> IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (115,469 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 63% (89,897 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 55% (110 reviews)
> Directed by: Genndy Tartakovsky
8. Hotel Transylvania (2012)
> IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (236,453 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (151,439 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 45% (145 reviews)
> Directed by: Genndy Tartakovsky
7. Happy Gilmore (1996)
> IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (208,518 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (990,896 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 61% (54 reviews)
> Directed by: Dennis Dugan
6. The Wedding Singer (1998)
> IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (141,326 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (746,357 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 69% (64 reviews)
> Directed by: Frank Coraci
5. Uncut Gems (2019)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (245,657 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 52% (12,115 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (341 reviews)
> Directed by: Josh & Benny Safdie
4. Reign Over Me (2007)
> IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (94,484 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (150,438 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 64% (154 reviews)
> Directed by: Mike Binder
3. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (155,172 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 77% (140,200 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (197 reviews)
> Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
2. The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)
> IMDb user rating: 6.9/10 (45,820 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 72% (5,564 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (187 reviews)
> Directed by: Noah Baumbach
1. Hustle (2022)
> IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (113,116 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (50 votes)
> Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (161 reviews)
> Directed by: Jeremiah Zagar