Adam Sandler is without a doubt one of the most popular actors working today and a defining character of the comedy genre for the last 30 years. Starring as the lead in so many instant classics, very few actors have been able to match Sandler's ability to simply make us laugh.
More recently, Sandler has taken on more serious roles, displaying that he can not only nail the comedic roles but deliver a performance full of depth and range. The 2010s saw him take on these different roles, making one of the best periods of his career so far. Here are Adam Sandler's best films of the 2010s.
10 Just Go With It (2011)
One of Sandler's romantic comedies came at the start of the decade in 2011, seeing him team up with Jennifer Aniston in a classic Sandler easy-viewing comedy Just Go With It. The film doesn't necessarily subvert any conventions of its genre, the dynamic between Sandler and Aniston provides a much more enjoyable rom-com compared to recent entries into the genre.
The film follows Sandler's character Danny Maccabee, a plastic surgeon whose heart has recently been shattered. In a bid to enjoy future dates with no strings attached, he pretends to be married, which ends up working for some time. But when he meets Palmer (Brooklyn Decker), he regrets his decision as she's the girl of his dreams. Instead of owning up to his lies, he enlists his assistant Katherine (Aniston) to pretend to be his ex-wife.
9 Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
The Hotel Transylvania series was easily one of the most loved animated series of the 2010s, and for good reason. The films all differed from most other animated films of its time, with the second installment, Hotel Transylvania 2, just falling short of the first, third and fourth films. This by no means suggests the film is bad, however this one doesn't bring as much freshness to the table. However, the performances from the likes of Sandler, Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez are all just as captivating.
Following Dracula (Sandler) now that he's opened the doors to Hotel Transylvania to humans, things start to take a turn for the better. But Dracula begins to worry about his half-human grandson, Dennis (Asher Blinkoff), showing his vampire side. While Mavis (Gomez) and Johnny (Samberg) are away from the hotel, Dracula enlists his friends to put Dennis through a 'monster-in-training boot camp'.
Like most modern animated films, this series is ideal to watch with the family. A unique take on a world that's usually quite dark, the movie is full of light humor and likable characters for everyone to enjoy.
8 That's My Boy (2012)
Another comedy in Sandler's filmography, That's My Boy released in 2012, with Sandler once again working with Andy Samberg but this time in live-action. Again, while this film doesn't do anything that Sandler hasn't done before, it's the perfect reminder of why he's so well-loved within the comedy genre.
Unlike other Sandler comedies, however, this film focuses on a father-son duo, with Sandler being the father of Samberg. As soon as Todd (Samberg) turned 18, Donny (Sandler) cut him loose. After years of estrangement, Donny shows up on the eve of Todd's wedding day, throwing his mind into a spiral of confusion. Donny desperately wants to reconnect with his son, but must face the consequences of his past decisions as a parent.
7 The Week Of (2018)
Throughout his career, Sandler has formed some of the most well-known actor duos in the comedy genre. While there are quite a few to choose from, few hold up to any time Sandler teams up with Chris Rock. The two more recently teamed up for the Netflix Original The Week Of, reminding us of the incomparable comedic chemistry the two have.
Sandler and Rock play two fathers in the film with opposing personalities, who come together to celebrate the wedding of their children. The build-up to your child's wedding is already full of stress, so having to spend it with someone you can't stand makes the perfect recipe for hilarious entertainment, with the two most definitely delivering.
Amidst a period of Sandler's career when he was taking on more serious roles, it was great to see him back to his routes in an easy-going comedy with a comedian he works brilliantly with.
6 Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)
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Hotel Transylvania 3 was the installment to the series that solidified its spot near the spot of the animated world of the 2010s. With the first two being well-received, there was naturally pressure on the third installment. What followed was what some people consider the best movie of the series, building on all the positives of Hotel Transylvania 2.
This movie takes the characters out of their hotel, setting the film on a cruise ship with Dracula taking a summer vacation. Indulging in all the activities the cruise has to offer, the family has all the fun that hoped for in their escape for the summer. But it doesn't take long for things to turn south after they realize the mysterious ship captain hides a dangerous secret that could destroy them all.
5 Murder Mystery (2019)
Another one of Sandler's iconic team-ups with Jennifer Aniston, Murder Mystery is perhaps one of their best films together. Keeping with the traditional comedy themes that the two work together best in, this adds a mystery element, as per the title. Compared to other Sandler comedies, infusing this additional genre makes this a truly unique entry into his filmography.
A Netflix Original, the film follows a New York cop Nick Spitz (Sandler) and his wife Audrey (Aniston) as they go on a European vacation to reignite the spark in their marriage. While enjoying their time away, a random encounter leads them to be framed for the murder of an elderly billionaire.
4 Hotel Transylvania (2012)
The first installment to the series, Hotel Transylvania is ranked the highest due to it being the perfect introduction to the world and characters. With Sandler voicing the main character in Dracula, there was a lot of discussion about what type of character he would be. What followed was the perfect blend of originality for an animated character through a multi-layered personality combined with Sandler's classic comedic quips.
The hotel itself is established as the main setting for the film, with it being the place where monsters who want to get away from the world go. On one special weekend, Dracula invites many different monsters to his hotel to celebrate his daughter Mavis' 118th birthday. The celebration soon takes a stressful turn as a human unwittingly crashes the party and falls in love with Mavis.
3 Grown Ups (2010)
A film released at the very beginning of the decade has since developed into one of Sandler's most iconic and memorable films, that being Grown Ups. Carried by the unbeatable comedic chemistry between Sandler, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Kevin James, there aren't many comedies that are as enjoyable, lighthearted and even as heartwarming as Grown Ups.
Even though critics never seemed to warm up to the film, its charm can't ever be denied. Following a group of school friends as they've all grown up in their unique way, the death of their old basketball coach leads to a reunion vacation at the same lake house where they celebrated their championship win years ago. Throughout their time with each other, the characters and the audience discover that age doesn't always lead to maturity.
2 Uncut Gems (2019)
When Uncut Gems was released back in 2019, besides the brilliant filmmaking from the Safdie brothers, the main talking point was the performance from Sandler which so many agree is the best of his career. Moving away from the comedy genre, this film is an intense, thrilling journey following a charismatic Jewel in New York City's Diamond District.
Sandler's character Howard Ratner is known by many in the business, known for his energetic, passionate personality. Hoping to land his biggest paycheck yet, he makes a high-stakes bet that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. Along with the high-pressure situation, he must try to balance business, family, and enemies on all sides in hopes that his bet pays off in the end.
Sandler's performance was so good in the film that when he wasn't nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars the following year, it was seen as the biggest snub in years.
1 The Meyerowitz Stories (2017)
Sandler's best film of the decade came two years before Uncut Gems, with Noah Baumbach's The Meyerowitz Stories. Like many of Sandler's films, this is a comedy that doesn't go down the same route as his other films in the genre. Instead, this film is much more grounded, heart-felt and relatable, full of standout performances from its brilliant cast.
The film follows a group of estranged siblings who come together to celebrate their father, Harold (Dustin Hoffman), and his work as an artist. Reuniting in New York, this perspective on the complex family dynamic that so many can relate to makes this such a memorable and underrated films of its release year. Sandler's performance is particularly memorable, perfectly embodying vulnerability and comedy.
Comparing this performance to films such as Grown Ups and Murder Mystery gives you all the reasons why Sandler is so well-liked and respected within the industry, as he provides all the emotions needed for whichever role he finds himself in. His passion for the industry is always evident whenever he appears on the big screen.
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