Adam Sandler’s 5 Best Comedy Movies, Ranked

Adam Sandler is comedy’s most polarizing figure. You either love his man-child antics or you think he’s the death of cinema. I fall somewhere in the middle: the guy’s made some absolute garbage, but when he hits, he hits hard. I’ve sat through enough Happy Madison productions to know the difference between inspired lunacy and lazy cash grabs.

These five movies represent Sandler at his comedic peak, when his juvenile humor actually served a purpose beyond selling tickets.

Yeah, I’m putting some controversial picks on here, but hear me out before you start typing angry comments.

Adam Sandler’s 5 Best Comedy Movies

Now these may not sit well with some Adam Sandler fans but lists such as these can always be subjective. Here are Adam Sandler’s 5 Best Comedy Movies:

5. Bulletproof (1996)

TMJ Rating: 3/5

This one’s a deep cut that most people forgot exists, which is criminal because it’s Sandler at his most unhinged. Before he got locked into the romantic comedy formula, he was doing buddy cop action with Damon Wayans, and it’s beautifully chaotic.

Sandler plays an undercover cop who has to protect his former best friend (Wayans) after a drug bust goes sideways. The premise sounds serious, but Sandler turns it into this weird mix of Lethal Weapon and his usual infantile comedy.

The action sequences are legitimately good while Sandler gets to do his thing in between shootouts. He’s not playing the lovable loser here; he’s actually competent at his job, which makes his childish moments funnier by contrast. Plus, the chemistry between him and Wayans carries the whole thing.

4. Murder Mystery (2019)

TMJ Rating: 3.5/5

Netflix gets a lot of shit for its algorithm-driven content, but sometimes they accidentally creates something genuinely entertaining. Murder Mystery with Jennifer Aniston is Sandler’s best work in years, and it caught me completely off guard.

I went in expecting typical Sandler phone-it-in Netflix garbage. What I got was a surprisingly clever Clue-style murder mystery where Sandler actually tries. He plays Nick, a cop who lies about being a detective to impress his wife, then gets caught up in a real European murder case during their anniversary trip.

The movie works because it gives Sandler and Aniston great chemistry to work with.

They feel like an actual married couple who’ve fallen into a routine, and the murder mystery forces them to reconnect.

Check out the 5 Best Buddy Cop Movies That Don’t Suck

3. Happy Gilmore (1996)

TMJ Rating: 4/5

This is probably Sandler’s most quotable movie, and for good reason. I’ve watched this thing countless times, and Happy’s rage-filled approach to golf never gets old.

The character is this beautiful contradiction: a violent hockey player who’s terrible at hockey but amazing at golf, trying to save his grandmother’s house.

You might like Apple TV+ Stick Series

Sandler creates someone who shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Christopher McDonald as the villain, Shooter McGavin, is absolute perfection; the kind of smarmy antagonist you love to hate.

The movie launched a thousand catchphrases and somehow made golf seem badass.

More importantly, it proved Sandler could build a comedy around genuine emotional stakes. Happy Gilmore 2 lives up to the original and is just as enjoyable and more heartwarming with the entire Sandler family on screen - so wholesome :)

2. 50 First Dates (2004)

TMJ Rating: 4/5

Here’s where Sandler discovered he could do romantic comedy without completely abandoning his comedic instincts.

Drew Barrymore has short-term memory loss, Sandler has to make her fall in love with him every single day, and somehow this ridiculous premise becomes genuinely touching.

What could have been a creepy stalker movie becomes this sweet story about commitment and finding creative ways to show someone you care. The Hawaiian setting helps everything feel more relaxed and romantic. Rob Schneider doesn’t completely suck as the Hawaiian stereotype character, which is miraculous.

Read The Naked Gun 2025 Movie Review

The movie works because both characters have real problems beyond the high-concept premise. Lucy’s dealing with a terrifying medical condition, Henry’s stuck in commitment-phobic patterns, and their relationship forces both to grow.

1. Blended (2014)

TMJ Rating: 4.5/5

Yeah, I said it.

Blended is Sandler’s best comedy, and I will die on this hill. Everyone dismissed this as another lazy Sandler vacation movie, but they’re wrong. This thing has heart, genuine laughs, and proves Sandler can carry emotional weight when he gives a shit.

Barrymore and Sandler play struggling single parents who hate each other at first, but slowly realize they’re perfect for each other’s families. The African safari setting could have been exploitative, but somehow it works. The supporting cast of kids is actually funny rather than annoying.

Terry Crews shows up as a singing African guide and commits completely to the bit. Most importantly, Sandler plays a real person with real problems rather than a cartoon character. The movie tackles divorce, single parenting, and blended families with surprising sensitivity.

Look, I know defending Adam Sandler comedies isn’t cool anymore. The guy’s made some truly terrible movies (Jack and Jill, anyone?). But when he actually tries, he creates these weird little comedies that work despite themselves. These five movies prove he’s capable of more than lazy Netflix paydays.

What’s your favorite Sandler comedy? Am I insane for putting Blended at number one? Let me know in the comments!