Ranking Adam Sandler's 23 Films From Worst to First

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (61)

Adam Sandler’s Jack and Jill arrives in theaters tomorrow, and with any other A-list actor, you look at that trailer and you immediately think, “That’s got to be the worst movie he will ever star in.” How could any movie be as bad as Jack and Jill looks? And how the hell can Al Pacino not only show up in the movie, but play himself. Play himself in love with a man dressed up like a woman? A woman that looks like Adam Sandler. Jack and Jill looks like a new low, the booger on the face of American cinema.

But then again, I wonder how it could possibly be worse than the last ten movies on this list, which ranks Sandler’s oeuvre from worst to best, a list that includes six good movies, three decent movies, there more watchable movies, and ten movies I wouldn’t force on my worst enemy, and right about now, that’s Adam Sandler. It’s like he’s daring himself to to see how bad a movie he can make before audiences stop showing up.

It’s worth noting that these 22 movies also made $1.8 BILLION at the box office, and nearly $3 BILLION worldwide. Note, too, that only movies in which Sandler played lead are included.

23. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry

22. Grown Ups

21. Just Go With It

20. Little Nicky

19. You Don’t Mess with the Zohan

18. Bedtime Stories

17. Eight Crazy Nights

16. Click

15. Mr. Deeds

14. The Waterboy

13. Bulletproof

12. The Longest Yard

11. Anger Management

10. Reign Over Me

9. 50 First Dates

8. Airheads

7. Spanglish

6. Big Daddy

5. Billy Madison

4. Funny People

3. Happy Gilmore

2. Punch-Drunk Love

1. The Wedding Singer

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Comments

Still don't like Billy Madison.

Posted by: lameaim at November 10, 2011 4:04 PM

Only #1 and #2 are watchable/good. Adam Sandler is one of those actors whose movies I assume to be bad until otherwise proven wrong.

Posted by: RolAnd at November 10, 2011 4:11 PM

The Wedding Singer better than Punch-Drunk Love?
For shame.

Posted by: A-schaef at November 10, 2011 4:13 PM

Maybe it was the age I was at when I saw it, but I thought Punch Drunk Love was a pile of pretentious dog shit. I hated every moment of that movie.

Posted by: KatSings at November 10, 2011 4:15 PM

Adam Sandler, further proof that there is no God.

Posted by: OldSchool60 at November 10, 2011 4:17 PM

Punch-Drunk Love made me expect wondrous things from Sandler. It's my own fault for not having lower expectations (much like Jim Carrey/Eternal Sunshine).

Posted by: Rest In Peace at November 10, 2011 4:18 PM

I don't see how you can call yourself a movie critic and put Billy Madison anywhere but Number 1. I won't slam you too hard though - you must have incurred significant brain damage having watched all of these movies (especially Little Nicky) from beginning to end. In fact, I'm a little surprised you can still operate a computer, let alone be capable of stringing two coherent sentences together.

Posted by: Greedy at November 10, 2011 4:18 PM

I've seen one and only one of those movies: The Wedding Singer.

I consider myself lucky.

Posted by: MM at November 10, 2011 4:21 PM

So, Funny People doesn't count? Because that would be in my top 3. With PDL at #1, of course.

(Don't know how I missed that one. It counts, and it's been added. Thanks! -- DR)

Posted by: ChristianH at November 10, 2011 4:27 PM

I only watched about 10 minutes of Chuck & Larry but really? It's worse than Zohan? Nothing on this earth is worse than Zohan.

Posted by: Paultera at November 10, 2011 4:35 PM

Despite the amount of trash on this list I still don't revile the guy. I am verrrry picky about which movies I'll sample though. First rule is that I stay the hell away from any Happy Madison production. After that it depends on the director.

Posted by: ed newman at November 10, 2011 4:36 PM

It's too hot out here for penguins!

I get the hate; he's not that great an actor, and most of his stuff is completely juvenile. I can't explain it, but I love him. I love his stupid face.

Also what's wrong with Click to be so far down the list? It was mostly cute, and it was in fact quite sad.

Posted by: Poptart at November 10, 2011 4:52 PM

Nothing on this earth is worse than Zohan.

Oh mercy, how I wish that were true. But Chuck and Larry is... oh god. It's devilry, is what it is.

Posted by: Ghisent at November 10, 2011 4:55 PM

The reason I'm rooting for Sophie on Survivor is that, when they watched Jack and Jill, she had this look on her face like she totally thought it was the dumbest thing she'd ever seen.

My kinda woman.

Posted by: Todd at November 10, 2011 5:04 PM

I will not watch one inch of celluloid if Adam Sandler was in a 10 mile radius during filming. He is absolute proof that ANYONE on the planet can make it in the movies if he can. Also, the dick is from New Hampshire and he is a Jets fan. What an asswipe.

Posted by: kirbyjay at November 10, 2011 5:14 PM

The Wedding Singer is rightfully number one. I rest my case.

Posted by: Candy at November 10, 2011 5:20 PM

Nothing on this earth is worse than Zohan.

Oh mercy, how I wish that were true. But Chuck and Larry is... oh god. It's devilry, is what it is.

...No, no no. NOTHING is worse than Zohan. It's pretty unwatchable and entirely incoherent. I honestly didnt think Chuck and Larry was that bad (that spanish poster's pretty bad though). It was a weird homophobic's apology to gays and it was Still not as offensive as Just Go With It. Even so, I would rank Grown Ups as the worse for sheer lazyness, followed by Zohan, followed by Mr. Deeds... what a boring and unnecessary remake. Thanks fo' nothin' Sandler.

Also would rank 50 First Dates higher, I know it's a bad romantic comedy with several improbable things going on...but as #1 indicates, Sandler is never better matched than when he's with Drew Barrymore.

Posted by: valerie at November 10, 2011 5:26 PM

Am I a dork for liking Airheads? So many cameos AND Steve Buscemi rubbing against a guitar, what's not to like? The first two I agree with, but I would switch 'em. He was llaying himself in The Wedding Singer, not a huge challenge like PDL. He proved he could against type there, did a virtual Jim Carrey (like in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

Posted by: gigi at November 10, 2011 5:32 PM

The bastard must be filthy fucking rich. But PDL was pretty good.

Posted by: Iheartlasagne at November 10, 2011 6:06 PM

I have a theory about Sandler. I think he knows that he's churning out shite and he just wants to see what he can get away with. How many people will give his movies big numbers on opening weekend, while he laughs his head off at how stupid the powers that be in Hollywood are for letting him produce this crap?

Posted by: TheBlackMenace at November 10, 2011 6:10 PM

Ok Spanglish, 50 First Dates and Airheads were light years better than Billy Madison. We only watched 1/2 of Billy Madison...couldn't take it anymore.

Posted by: wsapnin at November 10, 2011 6:18 PM

How do you rank The Waterboy that low? Seriously.

Posted by: FyreHaar at November 10, 2011 6:35 PM

Ugh, I've never seen them all together in one place before. So many bad movies.

Posted by: Steph at November 10, 2011 6:37 PM

I think Little Nicky should be about five spots higher. (I'm not interested in defending the film, except to say that I find it more tolerable than the likes of Click.)

Posted by: csb at November 10, 2011 6:52 PM

Agreed that 50 First Dates should be much higher. Yeah, it's a stupid romantic comedy, but every time they show it on TBS and there's nothing else on or to do, I watch it.

Speaking of TBS, is it me or do they show either a Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, or Will Smith movie every weekend?

Posted by: Pat at November 10, 2011 7:25 PM

I haven't seen The Wedding Singer, but Punch-Drunk Love is a superb, disturbing, and totally off-kilter love story that I truly adore. Call it pretentious all you want, I'll still love it way too much.

Posted by: Kamikaze Feminist at November 10, 2011 8:02 PM

Oh come on, I like The Waterboy.

Posted by: Lucas at November 10, 2011 8:06 PM

I loved Bulletproof. I hate, hate, hated Funny People.

Posted by: Kobie at November 10, 2011 8:15 PM

I kind of like Bedtime Stories. I can never get past his voice in Little Nicky. I don't think I have ever lasted 30 seconds watching a clip from it. Funny People to me was incredibly disappointing.

Posted by: Matt at November 10, 2011 8:32 PM

Chuck and Larry was offensive in thinking it wasn't offensive. Also just a bad movie. I mean Kevin James and Adam Sandler doing their usual phoned in sell my soul for a million dollars schtick.

Posted by: googergieger at November 10, 2011 9:06 PM

Mr. Deeds was pretty decent and miles better than Funny People. That movie was fucking horrible.

Posted by: Even Stevens at November 10, 2011 9:09 PM

Eh, there are a couple there I liked, but overall the batting average isn't very high.

Posted by: Protoguy at November 10, 2011 9:21 PM

I can't wait until Jack and Jill opens, if only so we will stop being assaulted by the horrendous trailers. In fact, I want to file a class action lawsuit against Sandler and his fellow apes for subjecting our fragile psyches to them. I will need some co-plaintiffs and an attorney who will work pro-bono (your reward will be doing something for the good of society.)

Posted by: Uriah Creep at November 10, 2011 9:58 PM

Agreed on Wedding Singer. I've seen most of these movies and while I only truly like a few of them, the rest don't bother me. My theory is he just loves making movies with his friends. He isn't forcing you to see his movies, he just wants to have a good time. I can't fault him for that.

Posted by: Jack Klompus at November 10, 2011 9:58 PM

Nothing on this earth is worse than Zohan.

I saw about two minutes of it once, and I can only pray to J*w*h that the above statement is true.

Posted by: Jerce at November 10, 2011 10:04 PM

Call me crazy, but I'd put Spanglish above Big Daddy any day. Maybe I'm just a sucker, but Adam Sandler got to me in that movie.

Posted by: Bucky at November 10, 2011 10:04 PM

Since it's lte at night and no one will read this, I loved Zohan. Granted I didn't see it in the theater or rent it but it was gross and hilarious and dumb. You expect that from Sandler (more gross than hilarious but I digresss) I watched it evry time it came on one of the Starz channels. I like stupid movies on cable. The 'fish cathcing', the hummus, the geriatric sex...what's not to love?

P.S. You can put your children in front of Grown Ups and replay it a million times and they won't move. Not that I do that.

I only admit this because I am anonymous and Ican lock my room door when its on.

Posted by: Candy at November 10, 2011 11:43 PM

Reign Over Me is WAY too low and Big Daddy is WAAAAY too high.

Posted by: Jim at November 10, 2011 11:46 PM

I have seen 18 of those movies (not his drama ones either--that's saying something very embarrassing). I grew up on Happy Madison crap, and while I won't defend most of them as anywhere near being good, I'm still gonna eat reluctantly eat my crap sandwich when it comes to HBO.

You eat pieces of shit for breakfast?!

Looks like I may be the default Adam Sandler expert. I mean, everyone else already went screaming in the other direction. Just me and some shitty Jack and Jill promo swag up in this mother.

Stop looking at me, swan.

Best thing is, I never had a cool kid card, so it can't even be revoked. And I fully realize that what I have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in my rambling, incoherent response was I even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this thread is now dumber for having listened to it.

The price is WRONG bitch.

Posted by: UMG at November 11, 2011 2:04 AM

"And may god have mercy on your soul".

Posted by: googergieger at November 11, 2011 2:15 AM

I also watch way more Rob Schneider and Chris Farley than is probably prudent. Pass that shovel, I'm digging myself deeper!

Posted by: UMG at November 11, 2011 2:44 AM

The first RT reviews for Jack and Jill came in, obviously the film was not per-screened for critics, and dear Jesus, even with 33 reviews, it still has the mythical 0% rating that even films such as Kangaroo Jack, Disaster Movie, and Alone in the Dark avoided.

Granted, both those films had double to quadruple the number of reviews that Jack and Jill has so far, but to think that an actual filmstar with enough money to market his film across the third largest country in the world for months, and attach arguably the greatest actor of all time onto the project all for a 0%'er is some square root of negative 1 shit.

Posted by: Devil Child at November 11, 2011 2:49 AM

I thought more of these films were watchable. And Adam Sandler is not all that bad. He looks out for his friends and casts them in his movies. I mean really, there is no reason Rob Schneider should still be in Hollywood. Plus after Grown Ups he gave his four buddy supporting actors Maseratis. I mean, how can you hate on the guy. He's made it, but he still does what he wants and values his friends.

Posted by: Muteki at November 11, 2011 3:39 AM

Even if someone's a good person, or looks after their friends, you don't have to like what they do artistically.

Nickelback is a band that worked themselves up from the bottom, and still has the same members it had back in '95 with the exception of the drummer. They kept their record label alive, and gave exposure to a lot of other bands who'd be working at Denny's by now without their help, and are probably the last real blue collar sucsess story in rock and roll.

Sure, they've done dickish things, but never anything outlandish: even without considering that they work in a business who's most noted figures include Kurt Cobain, a man who killed himself and left behind his infant daughter with a heroin addict, and Michael Jackson, a man who made his children in a laboratory and batted multiple pedophilia accusations.

That said, all their records are still terrible. I never want to hear another Nickelback song in my life, and nobody should feel obligated to listen to Chad Kroeger sing about photographs and being the last one standing just because the guy's nice enough to keep his brother and old friend employed even after 16 years.

Posted by: Devil Child at November 11, 2011 6:52 AM

I'd stop and most of those if they came on TBS on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Posted by: grumpiestoldman at November 11, 2011 9:29 AM

WHAT ABOUT GOING OVERBOARD?

Posted by: dan at November 11, 2011 10:28 AM

Well, I have a microphone and you don't, so you will listen to every damn word I have to say!

Posted by: UMG at November 11, 2011 11:07 AM

And, I'll take movies you will see in hell as punishment for $100, Alex.

Posted by: pookie at November 11, 2011 11:25 AM

what a bad list. The waterboy should be top 5 cause even though its stupid it IS funny which funny people ISNT.

Posted by: RIGGS at November 11, 2011 11:54 AM

I would have put Funny People (or Come Spend the Last Hour and a Half with Judd Apatow's Family and Watch His Daughter's Vocal Recital In Its Entirety) below everything, up to and including Jack and Jill, which I can only presume is a human rights violation.

Posted by: TL at November 11, 2011 1:47 PM

This has to be a Pajiba first.

More comments about Adam fuckin' Whoever than sex?

'Scuse while I check my location, make sure I'm on the right website......

Posted by: seemless at November 11, 2011 2:17 PM

"Punch Drunk Love" was brilliant! The rest of these movies should never had been made...

Posted by: Kenny G. at November 11, 2011 2:44 PM

How did the nearly unwatchable 'Funny People' get so high on the list? Is it because stuff like Click and Grown Ups were just so bad that they make that turd look good in comparison??

Seriously, 'Funny People' is just awful!

Also, 'Wedding Singer' should be # 3. 'Reign Over Me' should be #2, and 'Punch Drunk Love' should be #1.

Posted by: Krazy Joe at November 11, 2011 4:31 PM

anyone who has seen all 23 deserves a purple heart.

Posted by: snake at November 11, 2011 11:36 PM

Inspired by this, I went and watched Punch-Drunk Love. That was an overrated pile of a mess. Let me get this straight, out of the blue he's asked to leave a restaurant, she never raises an issue with it, and somehow she calls him back so they can kiss because somehow the date was just that wonderful? Only in the movies does this work. It just felt like things were done with little to no regards to logic, or the reasoning was never shown.

Adam did rather well as an actor, but the movie itself was far from enjoyable.

Posted by: Matt at November 12, 2011 9:52 AM

Waterboy is not only Sandlers best movie, it is one of the best comedies ever made. To rank it at #14, especially behind some real snoozers such Airheads and Spanglish, is indicative of the pretentiousness of personal-preference list-makers..

Posted by: Art at November 14, 2011 3:31 PM

"Just Go With It" has to number 23. He got Brooklyn Decker and he wasn't a billionare.

Posted by: joe at November 14, 2011 4:18 PM

Oh. I feel so good whenever someone realizes how terrible Adam Sandler's career is for the humankind. Sometimes I feel like I'm Stan Marsh finding cr*p all over the cinema.

Posted by: James at November 21, 2011 6:29 PM

you guys are all crazy, adam sandler makes amazing movies. i liked every single one! iv seen all 23 and i would watch them all again. water boy big daddy little nickey and billy madison are so funny

Posted by: blaze at December 11, 2011 1:16 PM

Adam Sandler made money off of the most useless films ever made...so truthfully who is the real loser here,, Sandler..or the Shmucks that went to see his absolute garbage?
Not one of these movies is worth its weight in shit.

Posted by: ME at December 15, 2011 9:43 AM

"Waterboy is not only Sandlers best movie, it is one of the best comedies ever made. To rank it at #14, especially behind some real snoozers such Airheads and Spanglish, is indicative of the pretentiousness of personal-preference list-makers.."

To say as such is indicative of a fucking twat headed moron...because thats what it takes to actually like this fucking snot.

Posted by: RetardsRule at December 16, 2011 10:18 PM

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Ranking Adam Sandler's 23 Films From Worst to First

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