Adam Sandleris an amazing actor and filmmaker, who has successfully remained relevant over the years by delivering films that became huge audience favorites. Sandler’s beginnings in the industry date back to 1989, when he made his film debut in Valerie Breiman’s comedyGoing Overboard, and a year later, he started gaining more recognition through his work onSaturday Night Live, a show he was on for five years. From that project onwards, his career gained momentum, and he solidified his name in the industry with leading roles in films such asBilly Madison,Big Daddy,andThe Wedding Singer, among many other comedies that, even though they were not fully appreciated by critics, generally charmed audiences.
After many years leading blockbuster comedies, Sandler flipped a switch in his career in 2017 and wowed the world with his role as Danny Meyerowitz in Noah Baumbach’s comedy-dramaThe Meyerowitz Stories. That was the first step in this new stage in his career, as two years later he would further cement his reputation as agreat dramatic actorwith his leading role in the crime thriller dramaUncut Gems, which earned him an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. Undoubtedly, his performances in these films and also in the 2022 sports dramaHustleare an indication of a verypromising future for Sandler.
While Sandler is mostly known for his charming,hilarious, and relatable charactersin comedic films, he has also been a great leading man in the romantic comedy genre, starring in some major productions over the years. Here are some of the best ones.
8Just Go With It
Just Go With Itis a 2011 film in which Sandler and Jennifer Aniston first worked together as co-stars, with the pair teaming up again eight years later inMurder Mystery. This production, led by Dennis Dugan, follows Danny, a plastic surgeon who pretends to be in a miserable marriage in order to date women without committing too much. But his lies backfire when he meets Palmer, a woman that quickly sweeps him off his feet but who refuses to date married people.
To get out of the way and keep dating the young woman, Danny convinces his assistant and friend Katherine to pose as his soon-to-be ex-wife, a scheme that doesn’t turn out quite the way he expects. Joining Sandler and Aniston in this blockbuster film are Nicole Kidman, Nick Swardson, Brooklyn Decker, Bailee Madison and Griffin Gluck.
Related:Drew Barrymore Says She and Adam Sandler Are Looking for Something ‘Meaningful’ for Fourth Film Collab
7Mr. Deeds
In the 2002 filmMr. Deeds, Sandler plays Longfellow Deeds, a friendly, down-to-earth young man from Mandrake Falls, who owns a local pizza place and is loved by everyone in town. All of a sudden, he inherits a billion-dollar business based in New York City after his little-known great uncle passes away. Overnight, Longfellow is thrust into an unknown and shallow world in which his gullibility plays tricks on him, and he meets Babe, an ambitious journalist with ulterior motives with whom he quickly falls in love.
Supporting Sandler in the cast of this remake of 1936’sMr. Deeds Goes to Townare Winona Ryder, Peter Gallagher, Jared Harris, Allan Covert, and John Turturro. WhileMr. Deedswas not as well reviewed as the original film, it did become an absolute box-office hit.
Blendedwas the third collaboration between Sandler and Drew Barrymore, a pair that has been rocking the romantic comedy genre for years. This 2014 film directed by Frank Coraci also features performances by Bella Thorne, Emma Fuhrmann, Terry Crews, Joel McHale, and Kevin Nealon, among other artists.
Blendedfollows Jim and Lauren, a divorcee and a widower who share a blind date with absolutely no chemistry whatsoever and agree to never see each other again. However, their plans are turned upside down once they realize that they will be sharing a getaway with their own children at a luxurious African resort in a journey that could forever change the destiny of both families.
5Murder Mystery
In the Netflix filmMurder Mystery, Sandler re-teamed with Aniston to play Nick and Audrey Spitz, a married couple who have been together for 15 years, but have never gone on their honeymoon. In order to avoid disappointing his wife with yet another boring anniversary gift, Nick decides to surprise her with the European trip he promised her so many years ago, although this trip may not be as luxurious as Audrey had hoped.
While on the plane, the woman meets Charles, a millionaire who invites them to spend a few days on his exclusive family yacht, but things get complicated for the Spitz family when a murder on the boat turns them into the prime suspects. This 2019 Kyle Newacheck film was met with mixed reviews, but became a crowd-pleaser that prompted the production ofan upcoming sequelto be released by the end of March.
4Spanglish
Spanglishis a 2004 film written and directed by James L. Brooks and starring Sandler, Téa Leoni, and Paz Vega, in a role that earned her wider audience recognition. It introduces Flor, a Mexican single mother who moves to the United States seeking a better life for herself and her daughter Cristina. She eventually gets a job in the Clasky household, a family with a big fortune and even bigger problems. Although she doesn’t speak English, Flor decides to take the job and enter the home of this troubled family that will not only put her daughter’s upbringing in jeopardy, but also her own feelings once she discovers her love for John Clasky.
Related:Why The Meyerowitz Stories Is Actually Adam Sandler’s Best Movie
350 First Dates
Sandler and Barrymore star in this hit romantic comedy that was remade in several countries worldwide alongside Rob Schneider, Sean Astin, Blake Clark, and Dan Aykroyd.50 First Datesfeatures Henry, a marine veterinarian from Hawaii who prefers to date tourists to avoid making commitments. Things change completely when he meets Lucy, a young woman who wins his heart from the get-go.
But this relationship faces a major challenge because, following an accident, Lucy suffers from a form of amnesia that makes her forget all that happens during the day once she goes to sleep. In any case, this is no obstacle for Henry, who sets out on the daunting task of winning back his sweetheart each and every day of his life.
2The Wedding Singer
The 1998 filmThe Wedding Singermarked the first collaboration between Sandler and Barrymore, and remained in the audience’s heart as one of the actor and filmmaker’s best films. Directed by Frank Coraci, this production features Robbie, a wedding singer who spirals into depression after his fiancée dumps him at the altar. While the young man is ready to give up his precious job for good, his friendship with a waitress named Julia, who is soon to be married, helps him get his life back on track, but also awakens unexpected feelings that could lead to some trouble. Joining Sandler and Barrymore in this rom-com are Christine Taylor, Allen Covert, and Angela Featherstone.
1Punch-Drunk Love
At the top of this ranking is one of Sandler’sbest reviewed films, and one of the first ones in which he proved his skills as a dramatic actor performing a character quite different from the ones he usually plays in his productions. This 2002 film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson also stars Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mary Lynn Rajskub and Luis Guzman.
Punch-Drunk Lovefollows Barry, a very shy 30-year-old with social anxiety who has grown up overprotected by his seven sisters and has never fallen in love. This reclusive entrepreneur’s life changes dramatically when he meets Lena, a co-worker of one of his sisters with whom he strikes up a complex relationship. For his role in this production, Adam earned his first and, so far, only Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.
