Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Adam Sandler is already the box office number one with his films grossing no less than $2 billion at the box office. Here’s the thing: the actor and humorist hasn’t had success for a while and has started a new career on Netflix…
Billy Madison (1995)
PHOTO PROVIDED BY UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Filmed in Toronto, this now-cult comedy sees the title character, played by Sandler, as a juvenile adult who is destined to inherit the family fortune if he can finish all of his elementary and high school classes in a matter of hours complete weeks. The actor, who helped write the screenplay, develops a character type that he will later repeat: the inconsequential adult with the big heart, who repeatedly finds himself in absurd situations and, despite everything, gets out of them again. Intended for family audiences, the comedy achieved notable success over the weekend of its release, grossing $26.4 million and taking first place at the box office.
The Wedding Singer (1998)
Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler PHOTO SUPPLIED BY NEW LINE
This hit romantic comedy – grossing $123 million on a budget of $18 million – was later adapted for Broadway. But she’s best known for giving birth to one of the most unlikely, yet likable, film couples, Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, who, after becoming friends, then became The First 50 Dates (2004) Blended Family (2014). It was screenwriter Tim Herlihy who told Sandler that his comedies lacked a female point of view.
Drunk in Love (2002)
Emily Watson and Adam Sandler PHOTO SUPPLIED BY COLUMBIA PICTURES
After founding his production company Happy Madison in 1999, Adam Sandler accepts Paul Thomas Anderson’s proposal to star in a romantic comedy in which he plays the role of a bachelor with a monotonous life. Now considered a good movie, Drunk with Love was a complete flop upon release, failing even to break even despite the actor’s Golden Globe nomination. But the film did have the merit of proving that Sandler – who later admitted to being terribly nervous on set – could excel in more complex roles.
Strange People (2009)
Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen PHOTO SUPPLIED BY UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Judd Apatow’s original idea is a good one: to present a cantankerous, cancer-stricken actor who remembers his early days as a comedian and decides to get back on stage. The writer-director decides to cast Leslie Mann and Seth Rogen in the credits… but the recipe doesn’t work, and Adam Sandler has to deal with another flop. It also cost him his company, Madison 23 Productions, a drama-focused subsidiary of Happy Madison, which will close after the release of Funny World. Adam Sandler’s career is now on life support.
Jack and Julie (2011)
PHOTO PROVIDED BY COLUMBIA PICTURES
Considered one of the worst films of all time, Jack and Julie follows a brother and sister, both played by Adam Sandler, and their encounters with Al Pacino, who plays himself while Katie Holmes transforms into Jack’s wife. Jack and Julie is so bad it holds the record for most Razzies Award nominations – 12 in 10 categories – and has won all 10 Statuettes of Shame.
The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
PHOTO PROVIDED BY NETFLIX
In 2014, Netflix announced that it had reached an agreement with Adam Sandler and Happy Madison Productions to publish four feature films by the actor, screenwriter and producer on the platform. The first film, The Ridiculous 6, was therefore posted online the following year and marked Sandler’s first foray into westerns. The $60 million film is one of the few to earn a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But it’s also the most watched feature film on Netflix in a 30-day period. Proof that the term “success” is very subjective.