Every Adam Sandler Movie, Ranked Best To Worst By Fans

The Eternal Question: What’s Sandler’s Best Movie, Really?

If you’ve ever yelled “You’re gonna die, clown!” at your TV, quoted
“O’Doyle rules!” at your friends, or ugly-cried during a surprisingly emotional
Adam Sandler drama, you already know: ranking every Adam Sandler movie is not
for the faint of heart. His filmography swings from goofy, lowbrow comedies to
award-level dramas, with animated monsters, Netflix originals, sports movies,
and a lizard musical thrown in for good measure.

Instead of listening to just one cranky critic, this ranking leans heavily on
what fans actually watch and love. Crowd-voted lists like
Ranker’s “Every Adam Sandler Movie, Ranked Best To Worst By Fans,” along with
IMDb user lists and fan discussions, pull in tens of thousands of votes to
reveal which movies people keep rewatching and which ones they’d like to
quietly pretend never happened.

Below, we’ll walk through the fan-favorite top tier, the solid middle of the
pack, and the truly cursed bottom of Sandler’s filmography. Think of this less
as a scientific ranking and more as a guide to what to watch on your next
Sandler marathon, based on what real viewers actually enjoy.

How Fans Are Ranking Adam Sandler’s Movies

To get a fan-focused view, this ranking draws from:

• Ranker’s fan-voted list of 60+ Sandler films, with more than
  99,000 votes from over 6,600 voters, updated through late 2025.
• IMDb user-created “best to worst” lists and user ratings,
  which tend to reward rewatchable comedies and quote-heavy crowd-pleasers.
• Rotten Tomatoes and critic roundups for context on movies
  where critics loved him (like Uncut Gems, Hustle,
  The Meyerowitz Stories) even when casual fans are more divided.
• Coverage of his Netflix era, including rankings of his
  original films and the recent fan buzz around Happy Gilmore 2 and
  family-friendly hits like Leo and
  You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.

Put simply: this is a fan-first ranking, tempered by the reality that sometimes
critics are right when they say, “Yeah, that one’s rough.”

S-Tier Classics: The Movies Fans Rank At the Very Top

When you combine nostalgic 90s kids, endless cable reruns, and the rise of
streaming, a few Sandler movies float to the top almost every time. On fan
lists, titles like Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and
Billy Madison consistently fight for the #1 spot.

1. Happy Gilmore (1996)

On fan-voted rankings, Happy Gilmore is often the king of the hill,
and it’s not hard to see why. It fuses sports-movie structure with Sandler’s
loud, chaotic energy, giving us Happy, a failed hockey player who discovers he
can absolutely nuke a golf ball down the fairway. Fans love the underdog arc,
the rivalry with Shooter McGavin, and the absurd set pieces (yes, including
the legendary fight with Bob Barker). It’s endlessly quotable, weirdly
heartfelt, and feels like peak “90s Sandler.”

2. The Waterboy (1998)

As Bobby Boucher, Sandler leans fully into his man-child persona, turning a shy
waterboy into a bone-crushing linebacker after a lifetime of being underestimated.
Fans gravitate toward the movie’s underdog heart, Kathy Bates’ iconic turn as
Bobby’s mom, and the way it walks the line between ridiculous and surprisingly
sweet. For many people, this is the Sandler comfort movie they throw on
when they just want to laugh and quote along.

3. Billy Madison (1995)

Billy Madison is pure, unfiltered early Sandler. The plot is gloriously
simple: a spoiled rich kid has to redo every grade from first to twelfth to prove
he deserves to inherit his father’s company. The movie is chaotic, surreal, and
stuffed with moments that became instant cult favorites (the academic decathlon,
the penguin hallucination, and that absolutely savage “everyone is now dumber”
speech). Fans rank it high precisely because it feels like an origin story for
the whole Sandler-comedy persona.

4. Big Daddy (1999)

If the top three are goofy chaos, Big Daddy is where a lot of fans feel
Sandler first proved he could make them tear up a little. Watching Sonny go from
lazy man-child to genuinely caring (if extremely unconventional) father figure to
five-year-old Julian hits an emotional nerve that still works decades later.
Fan rankings reward it for balancing fart jokes, court scenes, and actual feelings
about responsibility and adulthood.

5. 50 First Dates (2004)

When fans talk about “sweet Sandler,” they almost always bring up
50 First Dates. Pairing him again with Drew Barrymore, the movie plays
like a tropical rom-com with a sci-fi twist: Lucy’s short-term memory loss means
she forgets Henry every day. Whether you find the premise romantic or deeply
unsettling, there’s no denying the chemistry or the emotional payoff, which is
why it consistently lands near the top of fan lists and “best romantic comedies”
roundups.

6. The Wedding Singer (1998)

The Wedding Singer is beloved for its 80s nostalgia, its soundtrack,
and the Robbie-and-Julia pairing that turned Sandler and Barrymore into one of
the most lovable rom-com duos of their generation. Fans rank it highly because
it feels timeless: take away the shoulder pads and mullets, and you still have a
funny, tender story about a good guy getting over heartbreak and finding someone
who actually deserves him.

7. Grown Ups (2010)

Critics were lukewarm on Grown Ups, but fan rankings tell a different
story. For many viewers, this movie plays like hanging out with a chaotic group
of old friends: the jokes aren’t always sharp, but the comfort level is off the
charts. The ensemble cast (Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider)
plus the summer-lake-house setting keep this one near the top of “play it in the
background forever” favorites.

Fan-Approved, Critic-Backed: Sandler’s Best Dramatic Turns

One of the quirkiest things about Adam Sandler’s career is that every few years
he drops a performance that reminds everyone, “Oh, right, this guy can really act.”
While these dramas aren’t always #1 on fan lists, they’re widely respected and
often age extremely well on rewatch.

Uncut Gems (2019)

Uncut Gems is a panic attack disguised as a movieand fans who normally
love him for golf swings and baby-talk voices were shocked by how compelling he
is as Howard Ratner, a diamond dealer on the edge. The film sits near the top of
critic rankings of his work, with a 90+% Rotten Tomatoes score, and has slowly
become a favorite among fans who appreciate high-stress thrillers and intense,
risky roles.

Hustle (2022)

In Hustle, Sandler plays a burned-out NBA scout who discovers a raw but
gifted player overseas and bets his whole career on the kid. Fans and critics
alike praise the film for its grounded tone, underdog story, and genuine love of
basketball. Many viewers rank it as one of his best Netflix originals and a top
“feel-good sports movie” for modern audiences.

The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)

Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories gives Sandler a chance to blend
awkward humor with quiet heartbreak as one of three adult siblings navigating
their complicated relationship with their eccentric father. It’s not a broad
crowd-pleaser, but fans who like his serious side often put this one close to
the top of their “best performances” lists.

The Reliable Middle: Comfort-Food Sandler Movies

Somewhere between “all-time classic” and “please never make me watch this again”
sits a big, comfy middle tier. These movies might not top many lists, but fans
happily rewatch them when they pop up on streaming.

• Mr. Deeds – A remake that turns Sandler into a small-town
  nice guy suddenly thrown into ridiculous wealth and media drama. Fans like its
  mix of slapstick and sweetness, even if critics were unimpressed.
• The Longest Yard – A prison-football remake that pairs
  Sandler with Chris Rock and a huge ensemble cast. It’s not perfect, but it
  scratches the “sports + redemption + locker-room jokes” itch.
• Click – Starts as a big high-concept remote-control
  comedy and turns unexpectedly emotional. Fans are split on whether the tonal
  shift is brilliant or manipulative, but it stays firmly in the “worth a rewatch”
  zone on user lists.
• Hotel Transylvania series – As Dracula, Sandler is
  part of one of the most successful family franchises of the last decade. Parents
  appreciate that the jokes land for adults too, and kids will happily marathon
  the whole series on a rainy weekend.
• Leo and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah –
  Newer Netflix titles that showcase his family and voice-acting work, quickly
  climbing fan and critic charts as some of his best recent projects.

If you’re building a marathon and don’t want to live only in the 90s, these
movies are your safest bets for a good night.

The Bottom Tier: Sandler Movies Fans Love to Roast

Let’s be honest: part of the fun of ranking Sandler’s movies is arguing about
the truly bad ones. Even fans who adore him will point to a handful of films
that feel more like inside jokes that accidentally cost $80 million to make.

The Ridiculous 6 (2015)

Netflix’s The Ridiculous 6 tried to be a parody western, but it mostly
became a punching bag for critics and viewers alike. Fan rankings push it toward
the bottom thanks to weak jokes, dragged-out gags, and controversy over racial
stereotypes. It’s the kind of movie people finish mostly so they can complain
about it later.

Jack and Jill (2011)

If there’s one movie that shows up in “worst of Sandler” and “worst of all time”
lists, it’s Jack and Jill. Watching him play both a slick ad executive
and his unbearable twin sister is a lot, even for devoted fans. The movie swept
the Razzies and frequently appears near the bottom of fan rankings, though a
small subset of viewers insists it’s so bad it’s almost fascinating.

The Cobbler (2014) and The Week Of (2018)

These two sit near the bottom of many fan lists simply because they’re forgettable.
The Cobbler has an intriguing magical premise that never quite pays off,
while The Week Of overstays its welcome with a long, chaotic wedding
weekend that feels more exhausting than fun. They’re not unwatchablejust not the
ones fans bring up when they talk about why they love Sandler.

Going Overboard (1989)

Sandler’s first film, Going Overboard, is mostly interesting as a time
capsulea low-budget oddity made before his SNL days. Fan rankings keep
it near the absolute bottom. It’s the cinematic equivalent of an early demo tape:
you watch it once out of curiosity, then go back to the hits.

Where New Releases Fit: Happy Gilmore 2, Spaceman, Jay Kelly & More

Sandler’s filmography isn’t frozen in time. New projects keep sliding into fan
rankings, shaking things up. The Netflix sequel Happy Gilmore 2
immediately shot up in popularity thanks to a record-breaking streaming debut and
a heavy dose of nostalgia, with returning cast members and new celebrity cameos
on the course.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, quieter projects like
Spaceman and the upcoming
Jay Kelly (a European-set tragicomedy directed by Noah
Baumbach) sit in a weird middle ground for fans. Early viewers and critics see
them as thoughtful, genre-bending experiments. But when it comes to pure fan
rankings, they tend to fall below the classic comedies because they’re not yet as
widely watched or endlessly quotable.

So, What’s the Final Word on “Best to Worst”?

When you zoom out, a fan-driven ranking of every Adam Sandler movie tends to
follow a clear pattern:

• Top Tier: 90s and early-2000s comedies
  (Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, Billy Madison,
  Big Daddy, The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates)
  plus standout dramas like Uncut Gems and Hustle.
• Middle Tier: Solid comfort rewatches
  (Mr. Deeds, Grown Ups, The Longest Yard,
  Click, Hotel Transylvania and newer Netflix hits like
  Leo and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah).
• Bottom Tier: Misfires and curiosities
  (The Ridiculous 6, Jack and Jill, The Cobbler,
  The Week Of, Going Overboard), mostly watched for completion
  or ironic enjoyment.

Whether you personally think Happy Gilmore or
Uncut Gems deserves the #1 spot, the fan rankings paint a clear picture:
Adam Sandler has built a career where people are willing to follow him from
screaming at golf balls to crying in jewelry shops to mentoring NBA hopefulsand
they keep coming back for more.

Fan Experiences: What It’s Like to Live in Sandler’s Movie Universe

Ranking Adam Sandler’s movies on paper is one thing. Living with them in real
life is another. For many people, his films are woven into very specific,
oddly vivid memories: watching The Waterboy on a worn-out VHS during
summer vacation, catching Big Daddy on cable for the tenth time at
2 a.m., or streaming Leo with kids who don’t realize this is the same
guy who once fought an alligator in a golf pond.

Fans often talk about doing full-on Sandler marathons. The usual pattern goes
something like this: you start strong with Happy Gilmore and
Billy Madison, quoting along with almost every line. By the time you
hit The Wedding Singer, someone in the room is humming 80s songs under
their breath. Around Big Daddy, people start admitting that, okay, the
custody hearing scene still gets them misty-eyed.

Then comes the drama turn. Firing up Uncut Gems or
Reign Over Me in the middle of a marathon is like slamming the brakes.
The room goes quiet. Phones are put down. Even fans who prefer the goofy comedies
tend to respect these moviesand afterward, someone usually says, “I forgot how
good he is in serious roles.” It’s a reminder that the guy known for yelling
and wearing oversized basketball shorts can also carry a gut-punch of a story.

The Netflix era plays a different role in fan experience. Movies like
Hubie Halloween, Hustle, and Leo often show up in
people’s feeds as low-stakes, “why not?” picks. You hit play expecting background
noise and end up surprisingly investedespecially with something like
Hustle, where the cameos and basketball scenes feel tailor-made for
group viewing. Kids, meanwhile, imprint on the animated and family titles, so
a new generation may think of Sandler as Dracula or a cartoon lizard long before
they discover Billy Madison.

And then there are the infamous bottom-tier movies, which have become their own
kind of fan ritual. Watching Jack and Jill or The Ridiculous 6
isn’t usually about enjoyment in a traditional sense. It’s about running a kind
of cinematic obstacle course with friends: pausing to groan at bad jokes,
debating which gag was the worst, and deciding whether something is “ironically
good” or “actually painful.” These movies become bonding tools, the kind of
shared experience you bring up years later with a laugh and a “Remember when we
made it all the way through that?”

Fans also use Sandler movies as emotional shorthand. Saying “I need a
Wedding Singer night” usually means “I want something cozy and romantic
that doesn’t require a lot of brainpower.” Recommending Uncut Gems comes
with a warning label: “It’s amazing, but don’t watch it if you’re already
stressed.” And suggesting Happy Gilmore is basically a universal
invitation to relax, laugh, and quote along until your voice gives out.

In the end, the “best to worst” ranking matters less than the way these movies
function in people’s lives. For some, the top tier will always be the early,
loud comedies. For others, the best of Sandler lives in the dramas and the more
mature Netflix stories. Either way, the sheer range of experiencescomfort,
catharsis, cringe, nostalgiaexplains why fans keep arguing about his filmography
and keep showing up for whatever he does next.