Adam Sandler’s Netflix Movies, Ranked by Critics

Rotten Tomatoes score: 0%

Summary: Sandler plays an outlaw raised by Native Americans in the Old West. After discovering he has five half-brothers, he sets out with them to find their deadbeat dad.

What critics thought: Sandler’s multi-film, multi-million-dollar deal with Netflix didn’t start well. Critics hated the movie so much that it received the dreaded 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

“With the lazy, misshapen ‘The Ridiculous 6,’ Adam Sandler robs his new Netflix benefactors blind,” critic Nick Schager wrote for The Playlist.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 9%

Summary: Sandler and David Spade play two friends who get into deep trouble when they decide to fake their own deaths and create new identities.

What critics thought: Though not as reviled as “The Ridiculous 6,” this movie’s rating still landed in the single digits on Rotten Tomatoes.

“‘The Do-Over’ is what happens when a successful artist is given lots of money and very little direction. We all deserve better,” K. Austin Collins wrote for The Ringer.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 26%

Summary: Sandler and Chris Rock play fathers who have to spend the week together leading up to their kids getting married. Hilarity ensues.

What critics thought: Or not. Critics were not fans of this one, either.

“While the movie is ultimately more of the same old same old, it is at least not as appallingly sexist and culturally insensitive as ‘The Ridiculous Six,'” wrote New York Times critic Glenn Kenny.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 27%

Summary: Sandler plays a talent manager who has a weird and eccentric stable of show business clients.

What critics thought: Another rotten score.

“There’s no way to recommend it,” wrote New Yorker critic Richard Brody.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 43%

Summary: Sandler plays a New York City cop and Jennifer Aniston plays his wife who really wants a trip to Europe. When it finally happens, the two find themselves in the middle of a murder on a yacht.

What critics thought: Even with the casting of Aniston, critics didn’t find much to be entertained by.

“It would be uncomfortably cynical to assume that Sandler thinks these novocaine-like comedies are what common people want to watch, but the guy doesn’t leave us much choice,” wrote IndieWire’s David Ehrlich.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 46%

Summary: Sandler and Aniston are at it again, but this time their characters have a private-eye agency.

What critics thought: Like the first movie, critics were not into this whodunit comedy.

“Pyrotechnics are plentiful, but laughs are not,” wrote Chicago Sun-Times critic Richard Roeper.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 54%

Summary: Hubie (Sandler) is a man devoted to everyone being safe during Halloween. But after a string of murders on Halloween night, he sets out to save the town.

What critics thought: Though still a rotten score, the Sandler movies are starting to get closer to respectability.

“Fans of Adam Sandler’s usual fare are in for a treat. Everyone else may want to avoid this trick,” critic Rob Hunter wrote for Film School Rejects.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%

Summary: Sandler pulls out all the stops (including a ton of cameos), as he continues the saga of Happy Gilmore, who returns to golf after the death of his wife.

What critics thought: Critics have finally come around to realize that, like him or not, the Sandman is not going to change his style for anyone.

“Yeah, it’s a bit messy and self-indulgent, but it’s often great, stupid, harmless fun,” Richard Roeper wrote for RogerEbert.com.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

Summary: An estranged family gathers in New York City to celebrate the artistic work of their father.

What critics thought: A Netflix movie starring Sandler finally found praise from critics — but it wasn’t a Sandler-produced movie. This was written and directed by Noah Baumbach, who cast Sandler as one of the sons.

“Expertly sketched by Baumbach, this memoir-like portrait of lives half-lived is the kind of bittersweet, dimensional character comedy we’re now used to seeing told in three seasons of prestige television. Baumbach gives us the whole package in two hours,” Matt Patches wrote for Thrillist.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Summary: Two friends’ bat mitzvah plans go awry when they fight for the attention of the same boy.

What critics thought: Whether it was years of beating the critics into submission or the fun-loving family quality of the movie — Sandler’s wife and daughters also star in the film — this is one of Sandler’s best-reviewed movies.

“Cry nepotism all you want, but the entire brood acquits itself quite well, and they seem to be having an infectiously good time together,” critic Chris Vognar wrote for Rolling Stone.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

Summary: Sandler plays a pro basketball scout who discovers a talented player from Spain and must convince an NBA team to give him a chance.

What critics thought: This is the best-reviewed Sandler-produced Netflix movie.

“You can’t help getting engaged in this story that feels older than the game itself, because Sandler makes you feel engaged in it. He’s genuinely invested in this, in a way that feels different than your usual saintly-coach-by-numbers drama with a big above-the-title name,” Rolling Stone critic David Fear wrote.