The 10 Highest-Grossing Adam Sandler Movies, As Of 2023

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Adam is a multi-talented personality who has found success in acting, screenwriting and producing films. He has numerous comedy hits, which have ruled the box office. Some of his best comedy features include Billy Madison (1995), Happy Gilmore (1996), The Wedding Singer (1998), The Waterboy (1998), Big Daddy (1999), and Mr. Deeds (2002). He is also known for his roles in drama films like Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Spanglish (2004), Reign Over Me (2007), and Funny People (2009). After a successful stint in films and television Sandler founded Happy Madison Productions, a film and television production company, in 1999. In over three decades, he has won five MTV Movie Awards and 12 Kids’ Choice Awards. Let us take a look at some of his highest-grossing films.

Adam’s films have grossed an estimated $2.4 billion at the global box office to date. His current net worth is a staggering $400 million.

Grown Ups 2 (2013) - $247 Million

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Grown Ups 2 had a sensational $42.5 million opening at the box office domestically in the first week. A sequel to the 2010 family comedy Grown Ups, it gained Sandler the Kids Choice Award for his role in the film. The film is directed by Dennis Dugan and produced by Adam, and it also stars Salma Hayek, David Spade, Chris Rock, and Kevin James. The plot revolves around Lenny Feder returning to his hometown and facing new enemies while maintaining his relationships. The film collected an estimated $247 million at the global box office.

Pixels (2015) - $244.9 Million

Pixels was directed by Chris Colombus and produced by Sandler, who also starred as one of the leads. The VFX-laden comedy is adapted from a video game of the same name, and it features a team of arcade gamers trying to stop an alien invasion on Earth. The audiences and the critics poorly received the film, yet it grossed a massive $244.9 million at the global box office. The film also stars Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, and Peter Dinklage.

Click (2006) - $240.7 Million

Click was directed by Frank Coraci and produced by Sandler, who also starred as the lead. The story revolves around Michael Newman, an architect who happens to get a time-traveling universal remote. He then proceeds to fast forward and pause his life according to his whims and fancies. In this process, he loses out on many significant life events, and the film also stars Kate Beckinsale and Christopher Walken. According to EW, the drama/comedy debuted at number one at the domestic box office with an estimated $40 million in ticket sales during the first weekend. It became the seventh Sandler movie to cross the $35 million mark and his fifth-best debut. The film collected an estimated $240.7 million at the global box office.

Big Daddy (1999) - $234.8 Million

An irresponsible law graduate adopts a foster kid to impress his girlfriend but creates hilarious situations. Big Daddy starred Sandler as Sonny Koufax, the twin Sprouse brothers, and Rob Schneider. The film ended up being number one on the domestic box office circuit, with an estimated $41.5 million on the first weekend. The comedy film finally collected $234.8 million at the global box office. Adam founded the film production company Happy MadisonProductions after the success of this film.

Just Go With It (2011) - $214.9 Million

The romantic comedy starred Hollywood sweetheart Jennifer Aniston and Sandler in the lead roles. The plot revolves around a plastic surgeon complicating his love life with multiple lies. According to The New York Times, the film was directed by Dennin Dugan and produced by Adam, and it made $30.5 million on the opening weekend. Just Go with It collected $214.9 million at the global box office.

Bedtime Stories (2008) - $212.9 Million

Bedtime Stories was released during the Christmas weekend. The film was directed by Adam Shankman and starred Sandler, Guy Pearce, Russell Brand, and Teresa Palmer. The plot centers around a normal hotel handyman’s bedtime stories coming true when he narrates them to his niece and nephew, resulting in hilarious consequences. Despite negative reviews during the holiday season, the film edged past the audience's expectations and collected an estimated $212.9 million at the global box office.

You Don’t Mess With The Zohan ( 2008) - $204.3 Million

According to Screenrant , the film ended up on the controversial side of Sandler’s career. He played an elite Israeli counter-terrorist agent who ended up in embarrassing situations while dealing with a possible terror attack. The film was written by one of his good friends Judd Apatow and directed by Dennis Dugan. It also starred John Turturro and Lainie Kazan, and the action/comedy was heavily criticized at the box office. Yet it managed to collect an estimated $204.3 million globally.

50 First Dates (2004) - $198.5 Million

The tear-jerking romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore and Sandler created positive waves at the ticket counters worldwide. The film was directed by Peter Segal and debuted on Valentine's week. The story revolves around a vet who falls in love with a girl with short-term memory loss. Each day he has to start all over again and hope for love to create its magic. The film made $21 million on the opening weekend domestically and collected an estimated $198.5 million globally.

Anger Management (2003) - $195.7 Million

The comedy feature dominated the domestic box office by debuting at number one with an estimated $44.5 million on the opening weekend. Anger Management is directed by Peter Segal and stars Jack Nicholson, Woody Harrelson, and Marisa Tomei. The plot follows Dave, who requires anger management therapy for his mood bursts and finds himself in a fix when his therapist invades his private life to cure it. The film collected an estimated $195.7 million at the global box office level.

Waterboy (1998) - $190 Million

The sports comedy featuring college life and an underlying underdog story became a phenomenal hit. Sandler was one of the film's screenwriters, and Frank Coraci directed it; it also starred Kathy Bates and Henry Winkler. The film broke all box office records for two months straight and collected a whopping $39.1 million in three days. Described as one of the most underrated films of Sandler, it collected an estimated $190 at the global box office.

Adam Sandler peaked his career multiple times at the ticket counter with his rib-tickling comedy sense and apt storytelling. His films have become benchmarks of success in the comedy genre.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, EW, The New York Times, Screenrant