Every Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston Movie, Ranked By Their Comedic Chemistry
Vote up the movies starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston that prove their dynamic is underrated.
Some movie couples that make perfect sense, like Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, or Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. And then there are some more surprising pairings. Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston qualify as a slightly surprising duo, but their chemistry is undeniable. The actors have been friends in real life since before neither of them was famous, and it shows in their easy rapport.
Sandler is more associated with Drew Barrymore as his leading lady, while Aniston's onscreen partners have included the likes of Owen Wilson, Gerard Butler, Jim Carrey, and, most famously, David Schwimmer. Both performers entered the mainstream on television (Sandler on Saturday Night Live and Aniston on Friends) , they're both established movie stars, and they have collaborated repeatedly, yet folks don't often associate them with one another.
Aniston has done some great movies, and Sandler is a staple of the romantic comedy, yet they didn’t work together until 2011. Their comedic energies are somewhat opposed, yet complement each other. He’s the buffoon, and she’s the responsible one, but he makes her laugh and be more adventurous, and she makes him think about the important things and be more caring, creating a complimentary in and yang dynamic in their collaborations.
Which of their films do you believe shows their unbeatable chemistry best? Is it Just Go With It? Or are you more of a Murder Mystery franchise kind of person, be it the first or the second film?
- 18 VOTESPhoto: Netflix
What's It About: The Spitzes, Nick (Sandler) and Audrey (Aniston), have been married for 15 years and are in a bit of a rut. He’s a police officer who always fails his detective exam, and she’s a hairdresser who loves reading mysteries. In a moment of tension, he gifts her a trip to Europe, and on the plane, she meets the rich Charles Cavendish (Luke Evans). He invites the couple to his yacht, where there’s a murder, and Nick and Audrey become the primary suspects. To avoid going to jail, they try to solve the murder themselves.
Why It Shows Off Their Chemistry: Even when they’re fighting, they’re doing it from a place of love. They’re not perfect, not at all, but together, they make for one great detective, combining Nick's professional experience and Audrey's deductive skills. They're allowed to bicker affectionately in a rapid, high-energy dynamic that plays to their backgrounds on SNL and Friends.
Memorable Moment: When the French Inspector (Dany Boon) first interrogates them and thinks they’re the murderers, Aniston and Sandler think he’s joking, and their rapport has a very screwball comedy, channeling Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant's energy and dynamism. They finish each other’s sentences and jokes, creating a comedic moment to show how they complement each other and think alike.
Critical Reception: The movie didn’t gain much respect in critics' minds and only has a score of 44% on Rotten Tomatoes. The most positive reviews about the film gave it credit for being reasonably easy and entertaining. Vox’s Alyssa Wilkinson said it best: “It's just the kind of movie to pop on one night when you're looking for something fun, silly, and a little mysterious.”
- 24 VOTESPhoto: Sony Pictures Releasing
What's It About: Plastic surgeon Danny (Sandler) fakes having a wife to bed women without committing. When he meets Palmer (Brooklyn Decker), with whom he has a real connection, and she finds a ring, Danny lies he’s about to get a divorce. When Palmer asks to meet her, Danny asks his office manager Katherine (Aniston), a divorcee mother of two, for help. In order to maintain the ruse, Danny ends up in Hawaii with Pamer, Katherine, and Katherine's kids, who are posing as Danny's progeny. As the lie gets bigger and bigger, Danny and Katherine get closer and closer.
Why It Shows Off Their Chemistry: The bickering and verbal backstabbing between their characters transforms into true love and real affection by the end, and the whole arc is only believable because of how the actors sell it. As Danny says near the end of the film: “You’re the only one I never lied to” and Katherine still likes him, showing he’s a good guy.
Memorable Moment: Although there are many memorable moments in Hawaii, the best moment might be when Palmer meets a glammed-up Katherine as “the wife.” Katherine and Danny have a verbal fight, getting some good laughs and insults with each other. It might be the funniest scene in the film, playing to the sitcom-style setup and letting both performers cut loose.
Critical Reception: Most critics didn’t like it very much, and it only has a 19% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The few good reviews lauded the chemistry between Sandler and Aniston. Even if it didn’t work with the critical establishment, it resonated with audiences, earning $214 million worldwide.
- 34 VOTESPhoto: Netflix
What's It About: After the first film, the Spitzes open their own detective agency, but it’s not going well. When The Maharajah (Adeel Akhtar), a character from the first movie, invites them to his wedding on his private island, they decide to make the trip. There, the groom gets nabbed, and Nick and Audrey must find him in Paris, even if no one else believes they can do it.
Why It Shows Off Their Chemistry: After the first movie, the characters are in a better place, being much more in sync with each other, and they show it in many moments. From when they discover every fancy thing in their room on the private island to when they see each other in their wedding outfits and discover an unexpected spark, there are plenty of moments that show off their familiar chemistry.
Memorable Moment: Although Audrey inadvertently shooting Nick twice while trying to hit the bad guy might be the biggest laugh, their most memorable moment together comes when they’re in a van with a group of bad guys and a suitcase full of cash. With the automobile running, they start fighting the villains and, surprisingly, kill them. They do this while cracking jokes, supporting each other as a team, and making each other feel better, proving they're a lethal and funny pair.
Critical Reception: As with the first film, critics didn’t like it very much and ended up with 45% of critics' approval on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences appeared more enthusiastic, as it was the 39th most viewed thing on Netflix between January and June of 2023.
