Summary

• Sandler's performance in "Uncut Gems" showcases his dramatic talent as Howard Ratner, a self-destructive gambling addict who drives away everyone who cares about him. Despite his flaws, it's hard not to feel sorry for him.
• In "50 First Dates," Sandler's character Henry Roth shows persistence and dedication in winning over Lucy, a woman with short-term memory loss. While initially manipulative, Henry's love and devotion make him an emblem of true love.
• As Zohan Dvir in "You Don't Mess With The Zohan," Sandler brings the audience a hilarious and endearing protagonist. Zohan's journey from elite Israeli counter-terrorist to hairstylist gives the movie both humor and heart.

The best Adam Sandler movies work because of the SNL alum's instant likability, and his glowing personality is always reliable at the box office. In total, Sandler has grossed billions of dollars worldwide, and that has inevitably led to a number of iconic Adam Sandler characters.

However, the actor doesn’t always play a lovable goofball that the audience can root for. The Sandman often plays characters with serious anger issues, characters who constantly lie to people, or immature characters who are stuck in a state of arrested development. Some of them are so immature that they literally can't graduate from middle school. Some of Sandler’s characters, like hopeless romantic Robbie Hart and unwavering do-gooder Longfellow Deeds, are more likable than others, such as serial manipulator Dr. Danny Maccabee and self-serving disgraced quarterback Paul “Wrecking” Crewe. However, they all have one thing in common, they're totally iconic.

15 Howard Ratner - Uncut Gems (2019)

"This is how I win."

Sandler gave one of his finest dramatic performances in the Safdie brothers' intense crime thriller Uncut Gems. Howard Ratner is a self-destructive gambling addict who can’t help himself, and he's unlike any character Sandler has ever played. Even when Howard is ahead, he doubles down. Howard sees himself as an underdog, as he explains to Kevin Garnett, “This is how I win.” He drives away everyone who cares about him, from his wife to his mistress. However, even though Howard has all these bad habits, it's impossible not to feel sorry for him when he makes one mistake after another.

14 Henry Roth - 50 First Dates (2004)

"Sorry I'm not better looking."

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Hawaii, 50 First Dates sees marine veterinarian Henry fall in love with Lucy, a girl with short-term memory loss who always wakes up with no memory of what happened the previous day. What makes Henry so iconic is his persistence and dedication to making Lucy fall in love with him every single day with his creativity, such as constructing a special videotape and building unique waffle houses.

The scenes where Henry stages first dates or the poignant scene where he sails away to spare her the pain of forgetting have solidified Henry's place in pop culture as an emblem of true love and devotion. He loses points on the likeability front for his initial ploy of manipulating vacationers on Hawaii to sleep with him so he can enjoy care-free, non-committal sex ona regular basis.

13 Jill Sadelstein - Jack & Jill (2011)

"Maybe God wouldn't have given you a rat face if you believed in him."

Sandler played both titular roles in Jack and Jill. Jack is an ad executive and Jill is his lonely twin sister. Jill has no friends and her brother only invites her over at Thanksgiving. She’s perceived as annoying due to her loud mouth, her oddball personality, and her dramatic overreactions, but she means well. Jill never intentionally hurts anyone’s feelings; she’s kind and caring and she always has people’s best interests at heart. Though the movie was critically panned when it was originally released, there's no denying how much heart Jack and Jill has.

12 Zohan Dvir - You Don't Mess With The Zohan (2008)

"Dalia, I don't know how to tell you this. I cannot make sticky with anyone else."

As an elite Israeli counter-terrorist turned hairstylist, Zohan's journey from catching terrorists to catching hair appointments in You Don't Mess with the Zohan is nothing short of ridiculous but hilarious. The character's desire to leave violence behind and follow his dream, even if it's as unconventional as cutting hair, gives the audience a unique and endearing protagonist. Scenes like Zohan's exaggerated fighting sequences and his genuine attempts to assimilate into American culture are comedy masterclasses. The character's insistence on offering more than just a hairdo to his elderly clientele and his motto of making the world silky smooth showcase both the humor and heart of Scrappy Coco.

11 Count Dracula - Hotel Transvylvania (2012)

"Human blood is so fatty, and you never know where it's been."

While not the typical live-action role Sandler is known for, his voice action as Count Dracula in the hugely successful Hotel Transylvania franchise is iconic. Though Dracula is typically a villain, the character is a loving father, overprotective, and struggling to come to with his daughter's independence, making him one of the most likable Adam Sandler characters. Sandler brings a comedic flair to the classic monster, making him both intimidating and lovable. Scenes of Dracula frantically trying to keep his daughter away from the human world, and finally opening up to accept change showcase the surprising depth and range of the character.

10 Nick Spitz - Murder Mystery (2019)

“You don't have to lie, just tell her to ignore when I'm lying.”

In Murder Mystery, Sandler plays Nick Spitz, a New York cop who finds himself embroiled in a murder mystery while on a European vacation. What makes Nick one of the most iconic and likable Adam Sandler characters is his down-to-earth nature juxtaposed against the backdrop of high society and deadly intrigue. Even when surrounded by the glitz and glamor of a billionaire´s yacht and European estate, Nick remains relatable. Scenes where Nick tries to fit into high society, only to comically fail, perfectly exhibit his everyman appeal, and it's why the series is so successful. Murder Mystery 2 was released in 2023, and audiences want Murder Mystery 3 too.

9 Danny Friedman - You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (2023)

"Everybody in this house needs a shrink."

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah ended a long trend of Adam Sandler Netflix movies being rated "rotten" on Rotten Tomatoes. The new Adam Sandler movie is critically acclaimed, as it's a touching coming-of-age dramedy about a teenage girl. Sandler plays the teenager's daughter, and it's one of the few times that Sandler has ever been sentimental or vulnerable in a movie, and it makes a refreshing change to other Netflix movies with Adam Sandler characters. The movie was only released in 2023, but Danny Friedman will undoubtedly be looked at as an iconic and lovable Sandler role.

8 Dr. Danny Maccabee - Just Go With It (2011)

"I want a flying pony, too, but they don't exist."

In the romantic comedy Just Go with It, plastic surgeon Dr. Danny Maccabee lies to women so he can have sex without making any commitments. He wears a wedding ring and makes up sob stories about being in a terrible marriage so women will feel sorry for him and sleep with him. Danny keeps the lie going when a woman he really likes finds his fake ring. He recruits his assistant and her kids to pretend to be his family. However, while the lengths he’ll go to in order to deceive women are astounding, Danny ultimately learns that the sleazy lifestyle really isn't for him.

7 Paul “Wrecking” Crewe - The Longest Yard (2005)

"Now, listen here, Mr. Frodo, don't get short with me."

Sandler took on Burt Reynolds’ role in the remake of The Longest Yard. Paul “Wrecking” Crewe is a disgraced former NFL star who thinks the world revolves around him. At the beginning of the movie, after being politely asked to engage in a party, Paul steals his girlfriend’s car, crashes it, and takes the police on a wild goose chase. However, the character becomes more likable behind bars as he assembles a football team made up of his fellow inmates, and he acts selflessly for the good of the team, making for one of the best Adam Sandler characters.

6 Billy Madison - Billy Madison (1995)

"Sometimes I feel like an idiot. But I am an idiot so it kinda works out.”

Billy Madison is a spoiled rich kid, who's the heir to a Fortune 500 corporation and enjoys a life of ludicrous luxury, and yet he never worked a day in his life. Billy didn’t even finish his grade 1-12 education – the only work that people are legally required to do – until he was forced to go back to school at age 27 to prove he was competent enough to run his father’s company. Just like a number of other Adam Sandler characters, Billy is completely unlikable and a bully at first, but he ends up learning from kids half his age and becoming an unlikely role model.