Joey Magidson
Adam Sandler is someone I don’t think gets his flowers. Now, when he gets serious, he does usually find praise, but he’s also one of the most popular comedic actors of all-time. Are there duds on his resume? Of course. At the same time, I think people who participate in this exercise today are going to be surprised how much he presents for you to choose from. Yes, today I’m ranking the best Sandler performances, tied into the release on Netflix this weekend of Spaceman, and I hope you join me in doing your own list as well!
In my review of Spaceman (here), I had the following to say about Sandler:
Sad Adam Sandler has become my favorite type of Adam Sandler, at least onscreen (I hope he’s very happy in his life off of it). When he gets serious, Sandler is often riveting, proving time and time again that he’s more than just a clown. Spaceman is just the latest example of this, putting as much trust in the Sandman as any film of his, to date. Taking cues from other science fiction works like Ad Astra and Gravity, as well as one man shows (this isn’t quite one but he’s pretty much alone onscreen) like All is Lost, Sandler is given a challenging assignment. That he lifts it from good to great is a testament to his skills.
Adam Sandler gives one of his best performances here, tapping into a well of sadness with none of the manic energy he’s usually mixed in. I would say he’s worthy of Academy Award consideration next year, but the early release date is going to make that a tough sell. Regardless, Sandler is aces, doing so much with his eyes. The way he bonds with a CGI spider is ultimately heartbreaking, without an ounce of artifice. Hanging on wires to simulate zero gravity and having philosophical conversations with an alien that could be in his head, Sandler finds the heart here. I was quite moved by his performance.
Below, you’ll see what I think are Sandler’s ten best performances, plus a few honorable mentions. Sandler gets accused of being a lazy actor when it comes to his comedies, but look at the following list and you’ll see a man who has tried more than you might expect. Many of you will have Punch-Drunk Love or Uncut Gems at number one, and that’s very fair, but that takes nothing away from Hustle or Spaceman. Plus, there’s underrated performances in things like Funny People, The Meyerowitz Stories, Reign Over Me, Spanglish, and more to consider. When it comes to the Sandman, he’s much more than a one-trick pony, and I personally love watching him explore the craft.
Here now are what I consider to be the top turns of Adam Sandler’s career, so far:
Honorable Mention: 50 First Dates, Big Daddy, Click, The Cobbler, and Hubie Halloween
10. Spanglish
9. The Wedding Singer
8. Men, Women & Children
7. The Meyerowitz Stories
6. Reign Over Me
5. Funny People
4. Spaceman
3. Hustle
2. Punch-Drunk Love
1. Uncut Gems
What is your favorite performance from Adam Sandler? Let us know!
Good one…we agree for the most part….I’m not a big fan of the Happy Gilmore/Billy Madison years so those didn’t get a sniff. I’m a little higher on Meyerwitz Stories…I still love going back to that one. There is a pretty gap between 5 and 6…the top 5 are all top shelf for me are very close to each other. I haven’t seen Spaceman yet.
Still a very solid list.