It goes without saying that Adam Sandler is the OG comedy star. He has established himself as one of Hollywood’s most lovable and bankable stars thanks to his string of comedy blockbusters over the past few decades. But in addition to making audiences laugh with his goofy characters, Sandler has also quietly developed into a successful screenwriter. Counting feature films, shorts, and animated movies, he has now written and co-written scripts for over 20 movies.
It may come as a surprise to some that the comedian who brought outrageous and comedic characters like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore to life has also been writing the stories behind some of his most memorable movies. But it is screenwriting that has allowed Sandler to let his innate understanding of comedy shine though in a more controlled format. He’s both a writer and a performer, and an incredible one at that.
Sandler first cut his teeth in stand-up by performing in comedy clubs. In 1990, he was hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live, following which, he became a star player in feature films. He made his film writing debut in 1989’s Going Overboard, but it was with Billy Madison, which he co-wrote with his frequent collaborator Tim Herlihy, that he truly broke out. Since then, Sandler and his Happy Madison Productions have developed genuinely entertaining scripts that were tailor-made to bring out the actor’s signature personality.
This list ranks every single film Sandler has written. From early comedies to recent animated projects, here’s a trip down memory lane as we explore the expansive and versatile Adam Sandler universe.
20 Going Overboard (1989)
Sandler’s feature film debut was met with really harsh reviews, but it did nothing to stop the star on his road to success. Going Overboard follows Shecky Moskowitz (Sandler), a struggling comedian who takes a job on a cruise ship after their comedian drowns in the ocean. The ship is full of beauty pageant contestants, and while Shecky manages to elicit laughter from his audiences, the movie’s plot goes in crazy directions.
Fans of Sandler Would Want to Stay Away From This One
Sandler is brilliant when it comes to physical humor and slapstick comedy; we witnessed his rise to fame on Saturday Night Live. But Going Overboard’s premise is so terrible and unfunny that it doesn’t allow his energy to truly shine. Apparently, as soon as the producers got access to the set (the cruise ship), they wasted no time and wrote the script in three days, prepared for it in two, and filmed it all in six days. Which explains why the movie feels like a stretched out sketch comedy and none of the characters seem properly fleshed out.
19 Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (2011)
Deemed as “one of the most misguided comedies of the decade,” Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star has a silly premise. The titular character is a small-town man-child who stumbles upon a family secret – that his reserved parents were famous adult performers in the 1970s – and discovers his own dream in the process. Bucky sets off for Los Angeles and a series of misadventures (with a little bit of love) follow him around.
A Comedy Incapable of Landing Jokes
Written by Sandler along with Allen Covert and Nick Swardson, Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star was meant to be a raunchy comedy that pushed boundaries. But the adult humor landed with a thud and fans thought Swardson’s title character was more pathetic than hilarious. A massive box office bomb, the movie was panned so viciously that it ended up receiving six Razzie nominations, including Worst Picture.
18 Jack and Jill (2011)
A rare feat for our favorite comedian, Jack and Jill features Adam Sandler in a dual role of the annoying brother and sister. Jack Sadelstein is a successful advertising executive who has nothing more than his twin sister’s yearly visits on Thanksgiving. This year has to be different because Jack is trying to cast Al Pacino in a Dunkin’ Donuts commercial. Though they could not be more different, Jill gets into all sorts of trouble to get her gifted brother’s attention. And this time, she ends up dating Al.
Sandler’s Most Unsuccessful Role
What was meant to be a wacky tale of sibling rivalry ended up being one of the lowest points in Adam Sandler’s career. The actor, who co-wrote the script with Steve Koren, tried to take both his roles to the extremes but critics blasted the movie as lazy and thinly conceived, pointing out a problem with its “reliance on a single-joke premise that was never really funny to begin with.” Al Pacino was great, without a doubt, but Jack and Jill is a disliked comedy nonetheless.
17 The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
With Sandler being the OG comedian, it wasn’t really a surprise when he ventured into Westerns. Not only was The Ridiculous 6 his first foray into the genre, but it also marked his movie in his enormously successful distribution deal with Netflix. The movie follows cowboy Tommy, also known as “White Knife,” who learns that he has five long-lost brothers. He brings them together, and against the backdrop of the Old West, they embark on a journey to reunite with their father and reclaim their inheritance.
A Sub-Par Western Homage
Written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler, The Ridiculous 6 is a star-studded Western comedy that stars Terry Crews, Taylor Lautner, Jorge Garcia, Steve Buscemi, Nick Nolte, Danny Trejo, Rob Schneider, Luke Wilson, and so many more. It was directed by Frank Coraci and produced under Sandler’s banner of Happy Madison Productions. Stylized as a true Spaghetti Western but executed poorly and with lazy, aimless humor, it was not well received by critics and is among the few movies with a 0% Rotten Tomatoes score.
16 A Day with the Meatball (2002)
A 2-minute short written by Adam Sandler with Nicholaus Goossen, who also directs it, A Day with the Meatball is simply what the title suggests. It is about a day spent with Sandler’s adorable pet, an English Bulldog named Meatball, whom he adopted along with three others, named Matzo Ball, Babu and Bagel.
Adorable Short Film
All of Sandler’s fans know just how beloved a part his dogs have played in his life, both on and off-screen. Meatball was not only the comedian’s pet but he was also Adam Sandler’s best man and ring bearer at his wedding. Being so important, it was only a matter of time before Meatball made his debut in front of the camera, and he did it with this 2002 short film. Even though it is really short in length, the film is very amusing and a delight to watch for pet lovers.
15 Goldman v Silverman (2020)
For those who genuinely feel like Sandler’s partnership with the Safdies is equivalent to that between DiCaprio and Scorsese, Goldman v Silverman proves you right. A short film from the team that came out of nowhere, it centers around Rod Goldman and Al Silverman, two street performers who are rivals of each other. The former’s success seems uncertain, especially with Al stealing his thunder every chance he gets.
An Oddly Amusing Short Film
In just seven minutes, Goldman v Silverman manages to capture the grimy New York hustle as well as the underlying commentary about how an actor and a director are perceived in the industry. Sandler plays Rod Goldman; he is clad in gold to resemble the Oscar trophy as he performs and entertains fans. Benny Safdie plays Al Silverman, and he’s just as incredible as you’d expect him to be. Witty, heartfelt, and realistic, it’s a refreshing short.
14 Grown Ups 2 (2013)
Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, and David Spade reunite for a sequel that’s somehow not even as interesting as the original. Grown Ups 2 takes place three years after the events of the first film, and it sees Lenny and his family moving to his hometown of Stanton, where Eric, Kurt, and Marcus live. Their bromance takes a backseat this time around as the middle-aged friends find themselves preoccupied with everyday challenges.
Fascinating but Unfunny
Panned by critics as “just old-school bad” and the “least movie-like movie of the decade,” Grown Ups 2 still managed to be a commercial success, grossing a worldwide total of $247 million against an $80 million production budget. Which is to say that Sandler’s fans were not only thrilled with the chemistry and rapport cultivated on screen by the star-studded cast, but were also touched by the deft balance between humor and heart and the poignant script, which was penned by Sandler, Fred Wolf, and Tim Herlihy.
13 Little Nicky (2000)
Hollywood has stopped spending a copious amount of money on comedies, which is why, the fact that Little Nicky was made on a budget of $85 million sounds insane. Its plot begins with Adrian and Cassius, two of Satan’s cruelest sons traveling to Earth to create a new Hell on the planet. To stop them, the hapless devil, who is getting weaker by the day, sends Nicky, the third and dull-witted son, to trap and bring them back. Nicky bumbles his way through the mission while also longing for love.
Deserves a Second Chance
By crafting an imaginative tale around an original mythology, Sandler tries to flex creative muscles and step outside his typical wheelhouse. Co-written with longtime collaborator Tim Herlihy, and director Steven Brill, the movie is offbeat and humorous, but only to the point where you find the characters intriguing. The movie also features cameos from Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Nealon, Reese Witherspoon, and Rodney Dangerfield.
12 Eight Crazy Nights (2002)
Eight Crazy Nights is an adult animated musical comedy that centers around 33-year-old Davey Stone who is a lonely alcoholic with just a few bright spots in his routine. But this year, during holiday, a night of partying goes too far, and thanks to a series of legal missteps, Davey is sentenced to volunteer serving as an assistant coach to a lackluster basketball team. Davey thinks he got off easy, but then he meets Whitey Duvall, the 69-year-old volunteer referee.
Sandler Voices Two of the Main Characters
As co-writer (with Allen Covert, Brooks Arthur, and Brad Issacs), producer, and animation star, Sandler went all out with this animated tale of recovering from your vices and making peace with your identity. Some call the movie out for being visually boring, others call it a “nauseating concoction,” and fans found the humor lame and crude. Whether it was intentional or accidental, Eight Crazy Night did not please a lot of fans and it was a box office bomb.
11 The Week Of (2018)
The Week Of, another ensemble comedy so-written by Adam Sandler, is Robert Smigel’s feature-length directorial debut. It revolves around Sarah Lustig and Tyler Cortice, who are getting married in a week. Adam Sandler and Chris Rock play Kenny and Kirby, the bride and groom’s respective fathers, with the former insisting on paying for everything. As the week progresses, it becomes clear that the two cannot see eye-to-eye, which makes it the longest week of their lives.
Among Sandler’s Touching Movies
Sandler and Rock first appeared on Saturday Night Live together, and the two have been buddies since. The Week Of is a nuanced collaboration between the two, but the movie focuses so much on the background characters that it fails to allow them to flex their dramatic and comedic chops. Regardless, The Week Of is a thoughtful and entertaining comedy that resonates with fans and proves Sandler’s versatility in mining both tears and grins.
10 Grown Ups (2010)
After their legendary junior high school basketball coach suddenly passes away, five childhood friends – Lenny Feder, Eric Lamonsoff, Kurt McKenzie, Marcus Higgins, and Rob Hilliard – reunite at his home to honor his memory. It’s been thirty-two years since they played, and now they are middle-aged men with kids and responsibilities and careers to look after. Bonding with each other is easier said than done, but the friends make the most out of their summer.
Easy, Breezy, and Nostalgic
A heartfelt comedy that places Sandler in the same room as his colleagues from his early SNL days, namely Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider, Grown Ups does not really have a message or a larger theme to anchor its uncomplicated narrative. Instead, it tries to mine laughs organically from the cast’s chemistry and friendship, which works for the most part, and then you start to realize just how underutilized the talents of the supporting cast members – Maya Rudolph and Maria Bello – remain.
9 Sandy Wexler (2017)
Sandler tells the story of his own talent manager, Sandy Wernick, in this dramedy that sometimes feels satirically on-point and sometimes feels undercooked. The titular character is an ambitious talent manager with an eccentric personality who tends to conceal some truths about himself, which leads to more disappointment than success. One day, he meets a young woman, Courtney Clarke, and Sandy’s life changes forever.
Sandler’s Bittersweet Send-Up
Sandy Wexler offers a look at the grind and the dream behind comedy; it is a comedic love letter to the industry and is filled with wit and warmth. Even though it’s not outright hilarious and lacks depth, Sandler’s embodiment of the talent manager is perfect as it is imbued with qualities like determination and commitment. As usual, the movie features cameos from Sandler’s buddies.
8 You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (2008)
With You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, we’re charting into the territory of movies where Sandler’s talents are on full display. The movie, directed by Dennis Dugan, follows an elite Israeli anti-terrorism expert named Zohan, who is so fed up with conflict that he fakes his death to pursue his dream of becoming a hairdresser in New York. Despite undergoing total physical transformation, Zohan must avoid a Palestinian-American taxi driver intent on exposing his past.
A Total Mood-Lifter
Written by Sandler, with Robert Smigel and Judd Apatow, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan is an absurd, hilarious, fish-out-of-water comedy that combines physical comedy and social commentary. The dumb humor around spy movies and plenty of gags every minute set across New York City entertain both 14-year-olds and adults. Sandler is mesmerizing as Zohan, delivering a show-stopping performance we didn’t even know we needed.
7 Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
In Hotel Transylvania 2, Dracula is nervously preparing for his half-human, half-vampire grandson, Dennis’ birthday party at Hotel Transylvania. But to his dismay, Dennis is far from showing any vampiric abilities. Dennis’ parents, Mavis and Johnny, consider moving to Santa Cruz to give their child a normal childhood, but things take a sharp turn when Dracula enlists the help of a friend to help begin Dennis’ transformation.
A Pleasant and Heartfelt Sequel
Lending not only his voice but also his incredible writing chops to the beloved monster-comedy franchise, Sandler brings warmth and wit to the sequel. The narrative, which is now open to humans, centers less on the monsters and more on themes of family and their expectations about who their children will grow up to become. Juxtaposing that modest humor the franchise is known for with the poignant ending, Hotel Transylvania 2 is entertaining as ever.
6 Leo (2023)
A true winner when it comes to Sandler’s work in the animation landscape, Leo is a product of Sandler’s unabating partnership with Netflix. It is also the second animated feature from Happy Madison Productions. In Leo, Sandler voices the titular tuatara, who has been a class pet to fifth-graders for a really long time. Now that he’s worried about dying, when a strict substitute teacher assigns the students to take Leo home one by one, he not only gets involved in their dreams and troubles, but also offers them valuable life advice.
A Wholesome, Disney-Esque Family Comedy
Sandler has always aimed at entertaining a family audience, and while many of his attempts have been hit-or-miss, Leo breaks the streak and emerges as an adorable, surprising, and beautiful movie. The songs are absolutely catchy, the characters are committed and hilarious, the overall vibe is positive, and the portrayal of fifth-graders is very accurate. It is directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim and written by Sandler, along with Smigel and Paul Sado.
5 Hubie Halloween (2020)
In his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, Hubie Dubois is a dutiful resident who loves Halloween (and owns it) but isn’t quite respected by others and is often bullied. Regardless, he monitors the town every October 31st and tries to report any troubles and suspicions. Fed up with his zany stories, the grown-ups don’t believe Hubie when he notices that people are going missing and a kidnapper threatens to ruin Halloween.
Has the Potential to Become a Traditional Halloween Rewatch
Co-written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler, and starring him alongside Kevin James and Julie Bowen, while his favorite collaborators Schneider and Buscemi pop in for a scene or two, Hubie Halloween celebrates the spirit of small towns, communities, and the holiday that made all our childhoods magical and memorable. It is filled with silly antics that are hilarious and entertaining, while the core theme is to overcome bullying, stay positive, and believe in your own ideals. If you like Sandman goofing off, the movie’s for you.
4 The Waterboy (1998)
Adam Sandler has played so many characters within his own universe that it’s hard to keep track of them. Fortunately, Bobby Boucher is among the memorable ones. A 31-year-old waterboy for a football team with a stunted social life, Bobby seems to have a gift for the sport. When a struggling star player gets hurt, coach Klein takes notice of Bobby and gives him a shot at playing. With the help of his peers and Vicki, a love interest, Bobby leads his team to victory.
Sandler Emerges as the Leading Man
In one of his most iconic roles, crafted by Sandler and co-writer Tim Herlihy, Bobby Boucher let the actor’s comedic instincts run wild. He was immensely liked by audiences for his freewheeling personality, which fueled the movie’s straightforward narrative and delivered heart and humor in equal capacity. At the box office, The Waterboy earned a total of $200 million worldwide against an estimated production budget of $20 million.
3 Billy Madison (1995)
Sandler may have evolved into an actor capable of taking on more dramatic roles (and nailing them!) but his breakout was with much sillier and absurd character, one of which he portrayed in the outrageous comedy, Billy Madison. As the spoiled and dim-witted son of a hotel magnate, 27-year-old Billy’s life is turned upside down when he’s forced to either complete all 13 grades of school in 26 weeks or lose his inheritance.
Adam Sandler’s Breakout Blockbuster
Billy Madison is Sandman’s first man-child role. His character is unmotivated, tends to become the public enemy, and possesses some hidden but useless skills. But he’s also endearing, fun, and endlessly quotable. The movie launched Sandler’s career and established him as an everyman. Under Tamra Davis’ direction, it redefined what slapstick meant, celebrated life, and brought energy to the screen. Despite initially receiving mixed reviews, Billy Madison gained massive popularity and is still adored by Sandler’s fans.
2 Happy Gilmore (1996)
A movie that continues to make audiences, both old and new, laugh, and is considered one of Adam Sandler’s best ones till date, Happy Gilmore sees him as an unsuccessful ice hockey player. All he ever wanted was fame and glory on the ice, but fate had other plans. When he learns that his grandmother’s house is facing the risk of foreclosure, Happy sets foot on the golf course and shocks everyone with his temper.
Takes a Swing at Comedy Gold
Stepping confidently into his second leading vehicle, which he wrote with his writing partner Tim Herlihy (their second collaboration), Sandler’s enthusiasm for the title character popped off screens. Director Dennis Dugan injected pure adrenaline into the action sequences and hijinks, while the supporting cast, including Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, and Carl Weathers, was just as funny. The movie helped launch the sports comedy craze and sustained enough popularity for a sequel to be made almost two decades later.
1 Big Daddy (1999)
Released three years after Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy finds the top spot on the list because, not only is the movie hilarious, but it’s also the first time we see Sandler embracing a more sincere role. He plays Sonny Koufax, a down-and-out law school graduate who gets dumped by his girlfriend because he’s too irresponsible. Sonny decides a fresh start is in order. He comes across a 5-year-old boy and spontaneously adopts him in an attempt to prove he’s grown up at last.
Finally Hitting the Stride
When Big Daddy came out, it had been a few years since Adam Sandler had struck gold in Hollywood as a comedy star with great potential. He also realized his appeal with the younger audience and in a script he co-wrote, once again, with Herlihy, envisioned Dylan and Cole Sprouse as the five-year-old who would bring out his paternal instincts. The movie also seamlessly combines poignant realizations with gentle belly laughs. Big Daddy took home several accolades and its rewatchability affirmed the movie as one of Sandler’s finest works.
You can watch Adam Sandler’s latest comedy special,
Adam Sandler: For you
, on Netflix.
