When thetrailer dropped Tuesdayfor the Safdie brothers new thrillerUncut Gems, the talk of social media was just how excited people were to seeAdam Sandlertake on such a dramatic role.
But this isnt the first time the comedy legend has displayed his dramatic chops, in fact, its an area where he has excelled.
Regardless of how you feel about the quality of some of Sandlers films, there is no denying that he is a star.
Credit: Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix; Everett Collection (2)
Dig deeper into his filmography and you will find that theSaturday Night Livebreakout can be a mesmerizing actor capable of more than just the broad, brash comedy he built his name on.
Here are five films where possibly by giving up some creative control Sandler turned in an emotional performance proving an Oscar is never out of the question for him.
The Wedding Singer
Sandler, especially when paired withDrew Barrymore, has proven to be an effective romantic comedy lead, never more evident than inThe Wedding Singer.
The actor cant help but wear his heart on his sleeve in his performances, leading to fluttery, heartwarming gestures like hopping onto a plane to confess his love.
Punch-Drunk Love
Before working with Academy Award-nominated filmmakers like Jason Reitman (onMen, Women & Children) and Tom McCarthy (onThe Cobbler), Sandler entered the world of so-called prestige film inPunch-Drunk LovewithPaul Thomas Anderson.
The auteur uses Sandlers manic energy to set the rhythmic tone of the experimental film, which proves the comedic actors ability to captivate audiences even when what theyre watching is uncomfortable.
Spanglish
Just as Sandler can explode into a comedic rage, he proves inSpanglishthat hes also capable of a softness where one voice crack can break a viewers heart.
Funny People
A film likeFunny Peopleis certainly long enough to allow Sandler to show everything he offers as an actor, even finding a way to use the physical comedy hes known for as a machine leading to the emotional climax of the film.
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
Sandler has a penchant for using music to draw out a fountains worth of tears from audience members, as he employs inThe Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)and his recent hosting stint on anEmmy-winningSNLepisode.
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