Adam Sandler’s Biggest Hits at the Worldwide Box Office, Ranked

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Adam Sandler is one of the most popular actors in Hollywood. He’s gained a large and devoted fanbase over the years thanks to his funny movies and characters that many people can relate to. Starting with his work on Saturday Night Live and early films like Airheads and Billy Madison, Sandler quickly became a major comedy star. He continues to be a prominent figure in the genre, not just as an actor, but also as a producer and writer for many of his projects.

Adam Sandler’s movies are consistently popular with audiences, but critics often haven’t been as impressed. While many of his films have been huge commercial successes, they frequently receive negative reviews, with critics often finding them uninspired, predictable, or lacking substance. Despite this, audiences continue to enjoy them.

Adam Sandler significantly improved his reputation with critics after his performance in the 2019 crime thriller Uncut Gems. The role showcased his talent for dramatic acting and marked a turning point in his career. However, Sandler still loves making people laugh, so fans can expect him to continue creating funny movies alongside his increasingly impressive dramatic work.

Here is a list of Adam Sandler’s 10 highest-grossing films so far.

10
‘Just Go With It’ (2011)

$215 Million

Just Go With It marked the first on-screen pairing of Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, a popular duo who reunited in 2019 for the Netflix film Murder Mystery and its follow-up. The 2011 romantic comedy centers around Danny, a plastic surgeon who pretends to be unhappily married to avoid serious relationships. His plan backfires when he falls for Palmer, who is hesitant to date a married man.

Sandler & Aniston Are a Dynamic Hollywood Duo

Danny tries to fix a lie by telling an even bigger one – he and his assistant, Katherine, pretend to be getting divorced. This deception quickly spirals out of control, ultimately leading to a life-changing trip to Hawaii for everyone involved. The film stars notable actors like Nicole Kidman, Nick Swardson, Brooklyn Decker, Bailee Madison, and Griffin Gluck, and while it resonated with viewers, critics weren’t impressed.

9
‘Bedtime Stories’ (2008)

$221 Million

Bedtime Stories was Adam Sandler’s first movie made specifically for families. The 2008 film, directed by Adam Shankman, featured a star-studded cast including Keri Russell, Guy Pearce, Courteney Cox, and Russell Brand. The story centers around Skeeter, a hotel handyman who has always dreamed of running the family hotel, but his plans are ruined when the hotel is sold and a new manager is appointed.

Sandler Ventures into Family-Friendly Territory

Skeeter starts telling his niece and nephew bedtime stories and is amazed to find they actually come true the next day. He tries to use this to achieve his dreams, but the kids keep changing the stories, messing up his plans. Although movie critics weren’t impressed, Bedtime Stories was a big hit with audiences, earning a B+ rating and making over $220 million around the world.

8
‘Big Daddy’ (1999)

$234.8 Million

Adam Sandler’s 1999 film, Big Daddy, is a fan favorite and often considered one of his best roles. The movie centers around Sonny, a man in his thirties who avoids adult responsibilities, leading to a breakup with his girlfriend. When a five-year-old boy unexpectedly arrives, claiming to be the son of Sonny’s roommate, Sonny decides to raise him as a way to prove his maturity. He doesn’t realize this decision will drastically change his life.

‘Big Daddy’ Sets Records For Sandler

Dennis Dugan directed Big Daddy, starring Adam Sandler alongside Joey Lauren Adams, Jon Stewart, Leslie Mann, and the Sprouse twins. The movie was another major success for Sandler, who rose to fame in the 1990s with his unique comedic style. Big Daddy had the biggest opening weekend of any Sandler film at the time, earning more than The Waterboy, and ultimately made almost $235 million worldwide. It remained Sandler’s highest-grossing domestic film until Hotel Transylvania 2 came out in 2015.

7
‘Click’ (2006)

$268.7 Million

Wouldn’t it be amazing to control reality with a remote? That’s what happens to Michael Newman, but by accident! He thought he was ordering a universal remote, and instead got something far more powerful. This busy architect quickly figures out how to benefit from his new toy, but he doesn’t realize that using it carelessly could have devastating, permanent consequences.

A Fantasy Filled with Humor & Heart

Released in 2006, Click is a comedy film directed by Frank Coraci and starring Adam Sandler, who also produced it. The movie features a supporting cast including Kate Beckinsale, Christopher Walken, David Hasselhoff, Henry Winkler, Julie Kavner, and Sean Astin. Click proved popular with audiences, winning a People’s Choice Award, and was surprisingly nominated for an Academy Award for its makeup. Even Newsweek acknowledged that, while the story was predictable, it was a surprisingly dark, touching, and funny film for Sandler.

6
‘Pixels’ (2015)

$244.9 Million

Back in 1982, a time capsule was sent into space with the goal of reaching other life forms. It contained examples of human culture, including some of the most popular video games. However, the aliens receiving the message mistakenly thought it was a hostile act and invaded Earth. They used advanced technology to transform into the characters from those very video games. Now, Earth’s only chance of survival rests with a group of former video game champions.

A Nostalgia-Fueled Adventure

The film Pixels, directed by Chris Columbus and starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan, Peter Dinklage, Josh Gad, and Brian Cox, wasn’t a hit with critics, but audiences loved it. Viewers enjoyed the movie’s nostalgic feel and its playful references to classic 1980s arcade games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Space Invaders. While critics weren’t impressed, Pixels received some positive attention for its entertaining special effects and strong performances from the supporting cast.

5
‘Grown Ups 2’ (2013)

$247 Million

Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, the 2010 comedy Grown Ups was very popular with moviegoers, leading to a sequel, Grown Ups 2, in 2013. The original cast returned, and Dennis Dugan directed again. The story follows Lenny, who decides to move his family back to his hometown to create a better life and be near family and friends. Once settled, Lenny and his childhood friends find themselves in a series of wild adventures, facing off against old rivals and making new enemies along the way.

Sandler Lets Loose with His Longtime Pals

Love him or hate him, Adam Sandler clearly enjoys making movies, and he often does it with his friends. This is evident in the success of films like Grown Ups and its sequel. While critics weren’t always fans, audiences loved watching Sandler and his comedic group cause hilarious trouble, and given the financial success of the first two movies, a third Grown Ups film is likely on its way.

4
‘Grown Ups’ (2010)

$272.2 Million

As a critic, I’ve seen countless stories about the passage of time, but this one really hit home. It explores how childhood friendships, no matter how intense, often drift apart. The film centers around Lenny, Eric, Kurt, Marcus, and Rob – five guys who bonded over basketball, but lost touch in 1978. Thirty years later, the death of their coach unexpectedly reunites them. They decide to rent their old lakeside hangout for a weekend, bringing their families along in a bittersweet attempt to recapture the magic of their youth. It’s a familiar setup, but the film promises a moving look at nostalgia and reconnecting with the past.

‘Grown Ups’ Makes Some Major Movie Magic

The 2010 comedy Grown Ups, directed by Dennis Dugan and starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider, wasn’t a hit with critics, but audiences loved it. The film earned $272.2 million globally, making it Sandler’s most successful movie worldwide up to that point. As a thank you, Sandler surprised his four co-stars with brand-new Maserati sports cars.

3
‘Hotel Transylvania’ (2012)

$358.4 Million

The huge popularity of the 2012 movie Hotel Transylvania launched a successful franchise that continues today with four films, a TV show, and several short films. It was the first feature film directed by Genndy Tartakovsky and featured the voices of Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, and Fran Drescher.

‘Hotel Transylvania’ Kickstarts a Lucrative Franchise

Hotel Transylvania tells the story of Count Dracula, who runs a fancy hotel exclusively for monsters. Everything changes when a human named Jonathan accidentally shows up during his daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday party. Worried Jonathan will ruin his hotel and potentially steal his daughter’s heart, Dracula tries to get rid of him. The film was a popular success, earning a Golden Globe nomination and an ‘A’ grade from audiences according to CinemaScore.

2
‘Hotel Transylvania 2’ (2015)

$474.8 Million

The second Hotel Transylvania movie came out in 2015 and brought back the original director, Genndy Tartakovsky, and all the original voice actors. This time around, Hotel Transylvania has changed a lot – it now welcomes both monsters and humans! Dracula and Mavis still live there, but Mavis is now married to Johnny, and they have a young son named Dennis, who surprisingly doesn’t seem to have any vampire powers.

The Sequel Surpasses the Original at the Box Office

Concerned about his daughter’s human boyfriend, Dracula secretly gathers his monster friends and puts the boy through a rigorous training program to awaken his inner monster. Although Hotel Transylvania 2 didn’t receive as much critical acclaim as the first movie, it was a huge commercial success, earning $474.8 million globally. The film also broke records with a $48.5 million opening weekend, becoming Sony Pictures Animation’s highest-grossing opening ever and the studio’s biggest hit until the release of its sequel in 2018.

1
‘Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation’ (2018)

$528.6 Million

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation is the newest movie in the series starring Adam Sandler as Count Dracula, and it’s become the most financially successful film in the franchise so far. Released in 2018, it also marks the final time Genndy Tartakovsky directed a Hotel Transylvania movie, with Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska taking over directing duties for the fourth installment.

‘Hotel Transylvania 3’ Doesn’t Lose Steam with Fans

This time around, the monsters are hitting the high seas on a luxurious cruise! Mavis plans the vacation hoping to help her stressed-out dad, Dracula, relax. But Dracula quickly falls for Ericka, the ship’s captain, not realizing she has a connection to his oldest enemy – and that enemy is closer than he knows. The movie also features new voices from Kathryn Hahn, Jim Gaffigan, Joe Jonas, Chrissy Teigen, and Joe Whyte, who add a fun, fresh take to the series, making it one of Adam Sandler’s most successful films yet.

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2025-10-24 03:45