It goes without saying thatAdam Sandleris the OG comedy star. He has established himself as one of Hollywood’s most lovable and bankable stars thanks to hisstring of comedy blockbustersover 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 likeBilly MadisonandHappy Gilmoreto 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 forSaturday Night Live, following which, he became a star player in feature films. He made his film writing debut in 1989’sGoing Overboard, but it was withBilly 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 developedgenuinely entertainingscripts 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.
20Going 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 Overboardfollows 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 onSaturday Night Live. ButGoing Overboard’spremise 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.
19Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (2011)
Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star
Deemed as “one of the most misguided comedies of the decade,”Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Starhas 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 Starwas 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 itended up receiving six Razzie nominations, including Worst Picture.
18Jack and Jill (2011)
Jack and Jill
A rare feat for our favorite comedian,Jack and Jillfeatures 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, butJack and Jillis a disliked comedy nonetheless.
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17The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
Ridiculous 6
With Sandler being the OG comedian, it wasn’t really a surprise when he ventured into Westerns. Not only wasThe Ridiculous 6his 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 6is 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 amongthe few movies with a 0% Rotten Tomatoes score.
16A Day with the Meatball (2002)
A 2-minute short written by Adam Sandler with Nicholaus Goossen, who also directs it,A Day with the Meatballis 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.
15Goldman 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 Silvermanproves 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 Silvermanmanages to capture the grimy New York hustleas 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.
14Grown Ups 2 (2013)
Grown Ups 2
Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, and David Spade reunite for a sequel that’s somehow not even as interesting as the original.Grown Ups 2takes 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 2still 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.
13Little Nicky (2000)
Hollywood has stopped spending a copious amount of money on comedies, which is why, the fact thatLittle Nickywas 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.
12Eight Crazy Nights (2002)
Eight Crazy Nights
Eight Crazy Nightsis 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 fansfound the humor lame and crude. Whether it was intentional or accidental,Eight Crazy Nightdid not please a lot of fans and it was a box office bomb.
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11The Week Of (2018)
the week of
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 onSaturday Night Livetogether, and the two have been buddies since.The Week Ofis 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 Ofis a thoughtful and entertaining comedythat resonates with fans and proves Sandler’s versatility in mining both tears and grins.
