Adam Sandler is an enigma in the entertainment world; despite numerous critical failures, the star remains one of the most popular and commercially successful comedians, with audiences turning out in droves to see his movies, despite their poor reviews. This may leave fans wondering about Adam Sandler’s first movie.
Adam Sandler’s first movie was 1989’s Going Overboard. The movie follows Sandler’s character as a comedian trying to make his big break aboard a cruise ship. Following in the footsteps of his character, Sandler began performing stand up comedy in Los Angeles, where he caught the eye of Saturday Night Live alum Dennis Miller and producer Lorne Michaels.
Read more below about Adam Sandler’s time on SNL and his rise into comedy’s leading man.
Saturday Night Live and Standup
Saturday Night Live is a late-night, live sketch comedy show that has been on the air since 1975. As one of the longest-running and most famous television shows in history, it has launched the careers of dozens of comedians, including the likes of John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell and Tina Fey.
After catching the eye of Miller and Michaels, Sandler was hired on as a writer for the show. In less than a year, Sandler became a featured performer on the hit show, famous for the songs he performed during skits.
Despite his initial success on the show, Adam Sandler and fellow co-star, Chris Farley, were fired from the show in 1995. There has never been an official reason for the duo’s firing, but it seems like their time on the show had simply run its course.
Hollywood and Happy Madison
Regardless of Sandler’s untimely departure from the show, Hollywood was waiting with open arms. Sandler starred in dozens of movies over the next decade and created Happy Madison, his own production company, which gave Sandler the freedom to make the films he wanted and mostly starring his close friends.
Despite many of Sandler’s movies being poorly received by critics, he has taken a few surprising turns as a dramatic actor, which have earned his acting rave reviews and prestigious award nominations. One of those roles was in 2002’s Punch Drunk Love, with famed movie critic Roger Ebert writing, “Sandler, liberated from the constraints of formula, reveals unexpected depths as an actor.”
Close Friends and a Charming Personality
Sandler has taken the praise in stride, still mostly focusing on comedy roles through his production company. Not only that, he has become known as one of the nicest and most generous guys in Hollywood.
Despite their poor reviews, his super famous friends continue to make films with Sandler because they enjoy spending time and working together. Sandler isn’t just nice to the bigwigs though, the actor is famous for being nice to everyone, and his amiable personality is part of his appeal to audiences and execs alike.
You can watch Sandler’s co-stars discuss working with the comedy film titan in the YouTube video below.
Comedy Icon
Over the years, Sandler scored big at the box office with many of his films and now has a lucrative production deal in place with streaming giant Netflix, which means even more success and Adam Sandler movies in audiences’ futures.
Not only that, but Sandler once again proved his acting chops in 2019’s Uncut Gems, with critics claiming it was Adam Sandler’s best role ever and many predicting the star will be nominated for an Oscar when awards season arrives.
Though Sandler’s dedication to his work is a big part of the longevity of his career, it was his first film role which opened the door to his success. Without having played a budding comedian in Going Overboard, the actor may never have given stand up comedy a chance, and therefore would not have been discovered and given a role on SNL.