Happy Gilmore 2 has been made and we’re here for it.
The original was off-the-wall humour but original and pretty much spawned the movie career of the wonderfully talented Adam Sandler. With roots in stand-up and sketch comedy (hello, Saturday Night Live), and his signature style – absurd voices, juvenile humour, but unexpected heart – Sandler’s films have defined a generation of comedy.
Here’s a roundup of his greatest, based on fan rankings, critical acclaim, and cultural impact – but most importantly our Top 10 faves:
ADAM SANDLER – COMEDY HERO
THE WEDDING SINGER (1998)
Robbie, the singer and Julia, the waitress are both engaged to be married but to the wrong people. Fortune intervenes to help them discover each other.
Sweet rom-com with Drew Barrymore; nostalgic and heartfelt
BIG DADDY (1999)
Thirty-two-year-old Sonny Koufax has spent his whole life avoiding responsibility. But when his girlfriend dumps him, he’s got to find a way to prove he’s grown up. In a last-ditch effort, Sonny adopts five-year-old Julian to impress her. She’s not impressed and he can’t return the kid…
Funny and touching; great chemistry with child actors.
HAPPY GILMORE (1996)
After his dreams on the hockey ice melt, Happy Gilmore discovers a gift that could bring him glory on the greens. But with his hot head and hard-hitting drives, Happy doesn’t just play golf – he destroys it. With the help of a retired golfer and hot publicist, Happy attempts to perfect his game…
Iconic sports comedy with Sandler in the goofy man-child role; endlessly quotable and beloved.
UNCUT GEMS (2019)
Howard is a charismatic, scheming diamond dealer who intends to sell an Ethiopian rock full of embedded gems at auction. But for this he will need to navigate his way through marital problems, girlfriend problems, imaginatively vicious racketeers, and his unquenchable desire to be close to success.
Intense thriller; Sandler’s most acclaimed dramatic role.
YOU DON’T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN (2008)
An Israeli Special Forces Soldier fakes his death so he can re-emerge in New York City as a hair stylist.
Wild and weird, but surprisingly heartfelt and real laugh-out-loud moments.
FUNNY PEOPLE (2009)
After he is diagnosed with a terminal illness that gives him only a year to live, a successful comedian-turned-Hollywood-movie-star takes a struggling, new-to-the-business comedian under his wing.
A darker, introspective look at comedy and mortality.
Expect laughs first, tears second.
LEO (2023)
A 74-year-old lizard named Leo and his turtle friend decide to escape from the terrarium of a Florida school classroom where they have been living for decades.
Great for kids, but layered enough for adults.
Did you know? The voice cast includes: Sandler’s real-life daughters Sadie and Sunny.
MURDER MYSTERY (2019)
American newlyweds visiting Europe on their honeymoon get caught up in murder mystery after witnessing a deadly crime.
Light whodunit with Jennifer Aniston; fun for teens.
ANGER MANAGEMENT (2003)
Dave Buznik is a businessman who is wrongly sentenced to an anger management program, where he meets an aggressive instructor.
Adult humor, sexual references, and strong language – Adam Sandler stars alongside the genius all-time great Jack Nicholson; one of his last films before retiring from the industry.
50 FIRST DATES (2004)
Henry Roth is a man afraid of commitment up until he meets the beautiful Lucy. They hit it off and Henry think he’s finally found the girl of his dreams, until he discovers she has short-term memory loss…
Romantic and funny; another hit pairing with Barrymore.