# Adam Sandler's panned films - Who is spending their money to see these things? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198 "2015-11-21T16:59:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/21 "2015-11-21T22:50:54Z")
The only movie of his that I saw in the theaters was Happy Gilmore. I thought it was hilarious. Other stuff of his I will watch. But only when bored, and I certainly won’t pay money for it. ---
**Author:** ![DeptfordX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DeptfordX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeptfordX)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/22 "2015-11-21T23:44:46Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Cheaply? I can’t figure out the budgets on some of these movies: $79 million for _Jack and Jill_ ? Was there a portrayal of the Battle of Midway in there somewhere? Yes. Made for a weird movie. One minute they were arguing over the Thanksgiving Turkey, the next “Aim for the Flat-top!”. Apparently there were script problems from day one, but I thought it worked. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/23 "2015-11-22T00:43:58Z")
It’s comforting to know the well meaning imbecile will value friendship over success every single time and the bad guy will get comeuppance and love will triumph. When I’m old and don’t recognize my own kids I’ll watch Adam Sandler movies and the first 10 seasons of Sesame Street and feel like I know who and where I am in the world. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/24 "2015-11-22T01:13:32Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’ve never caught any of Sandler’s films in the theaters, only on TV. Big Daddy was OK. I liked Click, The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates, and Anger Management. **Reign Over Me** was excellent. I can’t really say I’ve hated any of his movies. > [@ftg](#): > > You leave it off the list of typical Sandler films much like _Punch-Drunk Love_. _Reign Over Me, Spanglish, Funny People_ and especially _Punch-Drunk Love_ were Sandler’s attempts to have a serious career, and I appreciate them. I remember waiting in line for Punch Drunk Love and my wife and I looking at each other , astounded that we were waiting to see an _Adam Sandler film_. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/25 "2015-11-22T01:24:28Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > The only movie of his that I saw in the theaters was Happy Gilmore. I thought it was hilarious. Oh, yeah, I loved _Happy Gilmore_ also. Didn’t see it in theaters, though. The price is WRONG, bitch! ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/26 "2015-11-22T01:45:12Z")
I’m not sure what to say about Sandler movies now. Granted that top 1% of the top 1% that is making all the money in America & that doesn’t ever want to pay a penny in taxes might want losing vehicles to keep their payables down in the ‘acceptable bracket’ every April 15th. Still, Dats an Awful Lot o Sandler Movies, Bruddah… Next you’ll be saying all the Kevin James movies, some of the Jack Black movies, all the Rob Schneider movies, the recent Jim Carrey movies, the McConaughey-with-his-shirt-on movies, and the “OFG De Niro and Redford Aren’t Retired Yet?” movies are all because some “Investment Professionals” in LA pick investments with a monkey and a dart-board… ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/27 "2015-11-22T01:51:45Z")
> [@Shawn1767](#): > > People like my wife’s cousin’s family. They have unrefined tastes and find simplistic comedies hilarious. It’s quite sad. I’m sure those unrefined common folk are just beside themselves with ennui while they laugh and eat popcorn and don’t give a shit about what other people like. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/28 "2015-11-22T02:37:33Z")
I don’t think I have ever seen an Adam Sandler movie in the cinemas. It’s possible I saw _The Wedding Singer_, but I think that was probably on TV. I’ve seen a few on DVD too. Some are good, most are not. I kind of like the other movies he Produces but that he isn’t in, like some of the Kevin James or Rob Schneider films. They can be quite sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/29 "2015-11-22T02:51:59Z")
Yeah I prefer a simple silly comedy if I’m going to watch anything. I don’t care for horrors or violent action movies and I don’t really care to invest much attention to a film for entertainment’s sake. Then again I’ve never paid to see a movie. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/30 "2015-11-22T03:31:13Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > I’m not sure what to say about Sandler movies now. > > Granted that top 1% of the top 1% that is making all the money in America & that doesn’t ever want to pay a penny in taxes might want losing vehicles to keep their payables down in the ‘acceptable bracket’ every April 15th. > Still, Dats an Awful Lot o Sandler Movies, Bruddah… > > Next you’ll be saying all the Kevin James movies, some of the Jack Black movies, all the Rob Schneider movies, the recent Jim Carrey movies, the McConaughey-with-his-shirt-on movies, and the “OFG De Niro and Redford Aren’t Retired Yet?” movies > are all because some “Investment Professionals” in LA pick investments with a monkey and a dart-board… Best explanation I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/31 "2015-11-22T03:56:57Z")
I don’t care for Mr. Sandler, and would detest his films; however mass appreciation may surprisingly re-evaluate his _oeuvre_ and posthumous reputation: considering the general standard of the present culture I can easily foresee that he will be regarded in 50 years as the Laurence Olivier of this day, not much watched, and not admired by all, but recognised as a masterly actor’s actor and representative of the period’s greatest art. And in a 100 years, legendary, as we _know_ Roscius, Irving and Joseph Jefferson were amongst the greatest of actors without ever personally having to — nor be able to — prove or disprove their art. Such are the uses of ubiquity. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/32 "2015-11-22T04:04:07Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > _Reign Over Me, Spanglish, Funny People_ and especially _Punch-Drunk Love_ were Sandler’s attempts to have a serious career, and I appreciate them. I remember waiting in line for Punch Drunk Love and my wife and I looking at each other , astounded that we were waiting to see an _Adam Sandler film_. I didn’t see _Reign Over Me_, but _Spanglish, Funny People_, and _Punch-Drunk Love_ were all good, and Sandler was great in them. I think his acting was probably a little better in _Funny People_ than in _Punch-Drunk Love_, although he was quite good in both. And _Happy Gilmore_ was fucking hilarious. And was it \*Billy Madison \* where he convinced the class on the field trip that all the cool kids pissed their pants? If you can’t laugh at that, you just don’t want to be happy. Sometimes it’s OK to turn off your adult brain and indulge your inner 12-year-old for 90 minutes. I’m sure lots of people wondered why anyone would want to watch the Three Stooges poke each other in the eye too. Aside: one of my favorite movie memories is (as an adult) going to see _Beavis and Butthead Do America_ with my brothers. I laughed till my sides hurt. I’m a reasonably smart and serious guy, but Jesus Christ that movie was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/33 "2015-11-22T04:06:20Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > _Reign Over Me, Spanglish, Funny People_ and especially _Punch-Drunk Love_ were Sandler’s attempts to have a serious career, and I appreciate them. I remember waiting in line for Punch Drunk Love and my wife and I looking at each other , astounded that we were waiting to see an _Adam Sandler film_. I’d say that _Punch-Drunk Love_ isn’t an Adam Sandler film, but a Paul Thomas Anderson film starring Adam Sandler. Similarly, the other films you mentioned are ones in which he’s acting in someone else’s movie rather than acting in one of his own. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/34 "2015-11-22T05:07:11Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’d say that _Punch-Drunk Love_ isn’t an Adam Sandler film, but a Paul Thomas Anderson film starring Adam Sandler. Similarly, the other films you mentioned are ones in which he’s acting in someone else’s movie rather than acting in one of his own. We saw it because of Paul Thomas Anderson, and will see any film he directs - which is why we were looking at each other in stunned amazement that we were waiting to see something that starred Adam Sandler. I don’t find him funny, mainly because I don’t find the characters he creates funny. I’m in the same position with Martin Short - his self-invented characters are dreadful and just about as funny as cancer, but he was great in _[Innerspace](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093260/?ref_=ttqt_qt_tt)_. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/35 "2015-11-23T00:22:21Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > I’m not sure what to say about Sandler movies now. > > Granted that top 1% of the top 1% that is making all the money in America & that doesn’t ever want to pay a penny in taxes might want losing vehicles to keep their payables down in the ‘acceptable bracket’ every April 15th. > Still, Dats an Awful Lot o Sandler Movies, Bruddah… > > Next you’ll be saying all the Kevin James movies, some of the Jack Black movies, all the Rob Schneider movies, the recent Jim Carrey movies, the McConaughey-with-his-shirt-on movies, and the “OFG De Niro and Redford Aren’t Retired Yet?” movies > are all because some “Investment Professionals” in LA pick investments with a monkey and a dart-board… Top 1% may not want to but they do pay more than one-third of federal income taxes [http://beta.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2005/10/04/the\_top\_50\_pay\_96\_54\_of\_all\_income\_taxes](http://beta.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2005/10/04/the_top_50_pay_96_54_of_all_income_taxes) ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/36 "2015-11-23T00:45:03Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > I remember reading, and will look for a link to, an article talking about how Jack and Jill was basically guaranteed to make money due to product placement alone, and that many of Sandler’s seemingly throwaway films were similarly Trojan Horses. When every person who comes to see your film accounts for $10 worth of box office and $3.50 worth of endorsement that nobody gets a cut of, that kind of two-tracked business makes a film quietly much more profitable. Red Letter Media, source of the wonderful Mr. Plinkett reviews, did a 2 part review of Jack and Jill along these lines ([part 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXNsT7-Lwsk) and [part 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc85QCF5414)). Worth the look, and much more entertaining than Jack and Jill. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/37 "2015-11-23T03:33:45Z")
I enjoyed a few of his movies: _Click_, _Spanglish_, _Happy Gilmore_ but I was thinking he’s really improved lately. _The Price is Right_ is currently produced and directed by one Adam Sandler. I assumed it was from his association with Bob Barker on HG but it appears it’s a different Adam Sandler. Drats, I thought it was just a new project for him. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/38 "2015-11-23T13:51:53Z")
> [@Shawn1767](#): > > People like my wife’s cousin’s family. They have unrefined tastes and find simplistic comedies hilarious. It’s quite sad. It’s _so_ distressing to be exposed to the lower classes, isn’t it? And to actually be related to them! One barely wants to admit it, doesn’t one? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/39 "2015-11-23T16:53:34Z")
> [@Shawn1767](#): > > People like my wife’s cousin’s family. They have unrefined tastes and find simplistic comedies hilarious. It’s quite sad. Indeed, it’s terrible they derive enjoyment from simplistic comedy. They should become sophisticated, then they would be worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![justmeetee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@justmeetee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justmeetee)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198/40 "2015-11-23T17:35:06Z")
I think the problem is that some people want to see (head back, nose in the air ,snooty tone in my voice) film while others ( Adam Sandler’s audience) are going to the movies for a fun night out after busting their ass all week. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-sandlers-panned-films-who-is-spending-their-money-to-see-these-things/738198.md?page=3)