The Waterboy | Rotten Tomatoes

The Waterboy

PG-13

Released Nov 6, 1998

1 hr. 28 min.

Comedy

List

33%

75 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Raised by his overprotective mother, Helen (Kathy Bates), Bobby Boucher Jr. (Adam Sandler) is the water boy for a successful college football team coached by Red Beaulieu (Jerry Reed). When Beaulieu fires Bobby, he takes up the same position for a losing rival team, led by despairing Coach Klein (Henry Winkler). After witnessing Bobby beat up a player who teased him too much, Klein adds him to the roster as a linebacker. Soon, Klein's players are championship contenders.

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Critics Consensus

This is an insult to its genre with low humor and cheap gags.

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josh b

Very underrated film one of Adam Sandlers best acting roles.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/18/24

Full Review

Daniel S

Great movie and critics are tards.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

Full Review

Austin W

I don't understand why the tomatometer is so low on this movie. This movie is great and funny. Even though it's kind of stupid, it's so funny and entertaining to watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/24

Full Review

kassim s

Classic alot of people dislike it but it's a nostalgic Comedy

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/24

Full Review

Kathryn S

Still cute and funny after all these years. Classic Adam sandler movie. Probably my favorite of all of them

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/08/23

Full Review

Rich S

Basically, Mama Boucher (Kathy Bates) is a first cousin of Sissy Spacek's mother in "Carrie."

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/14/23

Full Review

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Frank Coraci

Director

Adam Sandler

Bobby Boucher

Kathy Bates

Helen 'Mama' Boucher

Henry Winkler

Coach Klein

Fairuza Balk

Vicki Vallencourt

Jerry Reed

Coach Red Beaulieu

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Show More Cast & Crew

12%

53%

Renaissance Man

TRAILER

for Renaissance Man

17%

24%

Krippendorf's Tribe

20%

34%

The Crew

59%

84%

Noises Off

50%

74%

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Andrew O'Hehir

Sight & Sound

A witless and utterly predictable comic fantasy about a misfit turned hero.

Jun 18, 2012

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Really dumb, but many teens love it anyway.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 29, 2010

Full Review

Glenn Lovell

Variety

The formulaic mix of mirth and mayhem is aimed way down the MTV food chain...

Jun 2, 2008

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

This juvenile, unnecessary, and utterly pathetic madness can barely be considered a comedy; the jokes are so immature and flat that it more closely resembles a tragedy.

Rated: 2/10

Sep 25, 2020

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

An agreeable yet forgettable comedy...

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 10, 2010

Full Review

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

There's an innocence to The Waterboy that makes the picture part slapstick and part fairy tale...The only problem with letting kids see this Adam Sandler movie? They might want to see another one. [Blu-ray]

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 12, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

Raised by his overprotective mother, Helen (Kathy Bates), Bobby Boucher Jr. (Adam Sandler) is the water boy for a successful college football team coached by Red Beaulieu (Jerry Reed). When Beaulieu fires Bobby, he takes up the same position for a losing rival team, led by despairing Coach Klein (Henry Winkler). After witnessing Bobby beat up a player who teased him too much, Klein adds him to the roster as a linebacker. Soon, Klein's players are championship contenders.

Director: Frank Coraci
Executive Producer: Adam Sandler
Screenwriter: Tim Herlihy, Allen Pasqua, Adam Sandler
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, Waterboy Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 6, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $161.5M
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS

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