20 Best Adam Sandler Movies of All Time Ranked from Worst to Best
From 'Billy Madison' to 'Uncut Gems,' Moviefone counts down the top 20 movies of Adam Sandler's hilarious and impressive career, including 'Jay Kelly'.
(L to R) Patrick Wilson as Ben Alcock and Adam Sandler as Ron Sukenick in 'Jay Kelly'. Cr. Netflix © 2025.
Adam Sandler one of the most beloved entertainers around!
He also holds the record for the highest box office total of any comedic actor in cinematic history at a staggering $3.3B worldwide, thanks to popular films like 'Billy Madison', 'The Waterboy', 'The Wedding Singer', 'Big Daddy', 'Grown Ups', and of course, 'Happy Gilmore'.
His latest movie, Oscar contender 'Jay Kelly', which also stars George Clooney, debuts on Netflix December 5th.
Jay Kelly
In honor of the new film, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best Adam Sandler movies of all time.
Let's begin!
Related Article: Adam Sandler and Laura Dern Talk 'Jay Kelly' Starring George Clooney
20. 'The Longest Yard' (2005)
The cast of 2005's 'The Longest Yard.' Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Disgraced pro football quarterback Paul Crewe (Sandler) lands in a Texas federal penitentiary, where manipulative Warden Hazen (James Cromwell) recruits him to advise the institution's football team of prison guards. Crewe suggests a tune-up game which lands him quarterbacking a crew of inmates in a game against the guards. Aided by incarcerated ex-NFL coach and player Nate Scarborough (Burt Reynolds), Crewe and his team must overcome not only the bloodthirstiness of the opposition, but also the corrupt warden trying to fix the game against them.
The Longest Yard
19. 'Just Go with It' (2011)
While romancing Palmer (Brooklyn Decker), a much younger schoolteacher, plastic surgeon Danny Maccabee (Sandler) enlists his loyal assistant Katherine (Jennifer Aniston) to pretend to be his soon to be ex-wife, in order to cover up a careless lie. When more lies backfire, Katherine's kids become involved, and everyone heads off for a weekend in Hawaii that will change all their lives.
Just Go with It
18. '50 First Dates' (2004)
Henry (Sandler) is a player skilled at seducing women. But when this veterinarian meets Lucy (Drew Barrymore), a girl with a quirky problem when it comes to total recall, he realizes it's possible to fall in love all over again…and again, and again. That's because the delightful Lucy has no short-term memory, so Henry must woo her day after day until he finally sweeps her off her feet.
50 First Dates
17. 'Grown Ups' (2010)
After their high school basketball coach passes away, five (Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider and Kevin James) good friends and former teammates reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Grown Ups
16. 'You Don't Mess with the Zohan' (2008)
An Israeli counterterrorism soldier with a secretly fabulous ambition to become a Manhattan hairstylist. Zohan's (Sandler) desire runs so deep that he'll do anything -- including faking his own death and going head-to-head with an Arab cab driver -- to make his dreams come true.
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
15. 'Murder Mystery 2' (2023)
(L to R) Jennifer Aniston as Audrey Spitz and Adam Sandler as Nick Spitz in 'Murder Mystery 2.' Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2022.
Four years after solving their first murder mystery, Nick (Jennifer Aniston) and Audrey Spitz (Sandler) are now full-time detectives struggling to get their private eye agency off the ground when they’re invited to celebrate the wedding of their friend the Maharaja (Adeel Akhtar) on his private island. But trouble follows the Spitzes again when the groom is kidnapped for ransom soon after the festivities begin — making each glamorous guest, family member, and the bride herself a suspect. 'Murder Mystery 2' sends Nick and Audrey Spitz on a high-stakes case that finally gives them everything they’ve ever dreamed of: a shot at their detective agency finally becoming successful…and their long-awaited trip to Paris.
Murder Mystery 2
14. 'Mr. Deeds' (2002)
When Longfellow Deeds (Sandler), a small-town pizzeria owner and poet, inherits $40 billion from his deceased uncle, he quickly begins rolling in a different kind of dough. Moving to the big city, Deeds finds himself besieged by opportunists all gunning for their piece of the pie. Babe (Winona Ryder), a television tabloid reporter, poses as an innocent small-town girl to do an exposé on Deeds.
Mr. Deeds
13. 'The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)' (2017)
An estranged family gathers together in New York for an event celebrating the artistic work of their father (Dustin Hoffman).
12. 'Anger Management' (2003)
After a small misunderstanding aboard an airplane escalates out of control, timid businessman Dave Buznik (Sandler) is ordered by the court to undergo anger management therapy at the hands of specialist Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson). But when Buddy steps up his aggressive treatment by moving in, Dave goes from mild to wild as the unorthodox treatment wreaks havoc with his life.
Anger Management
11. 'Murder Mystery' (2019)
On a long-awaited trip to Europe, a New York City cop (Sandler) and his hairdresser wife (Jennifer Aniston) scramble to solve a baffling murder aboard a billionaire's yacht.
Murder Mystery
10. 'Happy Gilmore 2' (2025)
Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in 'Happy Gilmore 2'. Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2024.
Revisit Happy Gilmore's (Sandler) golf career after his win in the Tour Championship.
Happy Gilmore 2
9. 'Big Daddy' (1999)
A lazy law school grad (Sandler) adopts a kid to impress his girlfriend (Joey Lauren Adams), but everything doesn't go as planned and he becomes the unlikely foster father.
Big Daddy
8. 'Punch-Drunk Love' (2002)
A socially awkward and volatile small business owner (Sandler) meets the love of his life after being threatened by a gang of scammers.
Punch-Drunk Love
7. 'Hustle' (2022)
After discovering a once-in-a-lifetime player with a rocky past abroad, a down on his luck basketball scout (Sandler) takes it upon himself to bring the phenom (Juancho Herrnangomez) to the States without his team's approval. Against the odds, they have one final shot to prove they have what it takes to make it in the NBA.
Hustle
6. 'The Waterboy' (1998)
Bobby Boucher (Sandler) is a water boy for a struggling college football team. The coach discovers Boucher's hidden rage makes him a tackling machine whose bone-crushing power might vault his team into the playoffs.
The Waterboy
5. 'Jay Kelly' (2025)
(L to R) George Clooney as Jay Kelly and Adam Sandler as Ron Sukenick in 'Jay Kelly'. Cr. Peter Mountain/Netflix © 2025.
Famous movie actor Jay Kelly (George Clooney) embarks on a journey of self-discovery, confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager, Ron (Sandler).
Jay Kelly
4. 'Billy Madison' (1995)
Billy Madison (Sandler) is the 27 year-old son of Bryan Madison (Darren McGavin), a very rich man who has made his living in the hotel industry. Billy stands to inherit his father's empire, but only if he can make it through all 12 grades, 2 weeks per grade, to prove that he has what it takes to run the family business.
Billy Madison
3. 'The Wedding Singer' (1998)
Robbie (Sandler), a local rock star turned wedding singer, is dumped on the day of his wedding. Meanwhile, waitress Julia (Drew Barrymore) finally sets a wedding date with her fiancée Glenn. When Julia and Robbie meet and hit it off, they find that things are more complicated than anybody thought.
The Wedding Singer
2. 'Uncut Gems' (2019)
A charismatic New York City jeweler (Sandler) always on the lookout for the next big score makes a series of high-stakes bets that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. Howard must perform a precarious high-wire act, balancing business, family, and encroaching adversaries on all sides in his relentless pursuit of the ultimate win.
Uncut Gems
1. 'Happy Gilmore' (1996)
Adam Sandler in 'Happy Gilmore'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Failed hockey player-turned-golf whiz Happy Gilmore (Sandler) — whose unconventional approach and antics on the green courts the ire of rival Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) — is determined to win a PGA tournament so he can save his granny's house with the prize money. Meanwhile, an attractive tour publicist tries to soften Happy's image.
Happy Gilmore
