Comedic star Adam Sandler has one common thread in his movies: he loves to cast his friends and family members, including daughters Sadie Sandler and Sunny Sandler, and Adam Sandler’s wife, Jacqueline. On top of starring in hit movies, Sandler produces them as well to a high degree of success, with Sandler forming his film production company, Happy Madison Productions, in 1999. The company was named as a composite of two of Sandler’s hit movies at the time, Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison. Since debuting with the late-night comedy Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo in 1999, Happy Madison continues to produce successful comedies to this day, exemplified by streaming hits like Murder Mystery and Hubie Halloween.
Sandler’s wife, Jacqueline, is an actress and a model. Besides starring in her husband’s films, Jackie has appeared in movies such as The Last Summer and TV series like Kevin Can Wait. Sandler’s two daughters, Sadie and Sunny, now 15 and 13 years old respectively, also make frequent appearances in their father’s films. Whether it’s in early romantic comedies or more modern family flicks, Sandler prefers to work with his friends and family around him. While some Sandler-family appearances are more prominent, others can be more difficult to spot. Here’s a round-up of every Adam Sandler movie featuring his wife Jackie, daughters Sadie Sandler and Sunny Sandler, and the various roles they’ve played over the years.
Big Daddy (1999)
Big Daddy was one of Sandler’s first hits that acted as a signpost for his familial castings to come. The movie follows Sonny Koufax, a slacker in New York City who suddenly finds himself in charge of five-year-old Julian McGrath (Cole and Dylan Sprouse) after the child was left abandoned on his doorstep. One of the first movies in what would become the Sandler multiverse, Big Daddy was also the movie to kick off Sandler’s habit of casting his family. Adam Sandler’s wife, Jackie, had a small role as a waitress, and they met on set. Her performance wooed Sandler — and the pair were dating by the time the film was released in 1999.
Bedtime Stories (2008)
Bedtime Stories was Adam Sandler’s first family-oriented film. Sandler plays Skeeter Bronson, a hotel handyman that finds himself in hot water after the outlandish stories he tells his niece and nephew come to life. Sandler’s daughter, Sadie, appeared alongside him in Bedtime Stories at just under two years old, playing the role of the “Sweetest Medieval Girl of All Time.” Jackie Sandler also appears in the movie as Lady Jacqueline.
That’s My Boy (2012)
That’s My Boy sees Donny (Adam Sandler) raise his son, Todd (Brooklyn 99‘s Andy Samberg) for 18 years as a single father. After years apart, Donny arrives uninvited on the eve of Todd’s wedding in a desperate effort to reconnect – ensuring hilarity ensues. Jackie appeared in That’s My Boy as a masseuse, and his daughters, Sunny and Sadie, appeared as children running a local lemonade stand.
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999)
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo tells the story of Deuce Bigalow, a hapless fish tank cleaner who gets himself in dangerous waters after causing expensive damage in the house of a sex worker. To pay for the damages, Deuce Bigalow is forced to turn to sex work himself, resulting in raucous scenes that put Rob Schneider’s comedic talents on the map. While Sandler himself doesn’t appear in the first-ever Happy Madison production, his wife Jackie appears in her first starring role as Sally.
The Do-Over (2016)
When their lives begin to go downhill, Max and Charlie (Adam Sandler and fellow SNL alum David Spade) decide to fake their deaths and start over with new identities. Unfortunately, the new personas the pair craft for themselves are revealed to have even worse problems than their old ones. Jackie appears in The Do-Over as Joan, and Sadie and Sunny play Auto Store Lou’s daughters, Sally and Daisy.
The Benchwarmers (2006)
The Benchwarmers sees Richie (David Spade), Gus (Rob Schneider), and Clark (Jon Heder) delusionally dream of becoming Major League Baseball players — but when the opportunity arises to make up for missed chances, the trio decides to form a baseball team to compete against Little League teams in another classic Sandler sports comedy. Jackie Sandler makes a brief cameo in the movie, credited only as “Female Customer,” while Adam Sandler’s nephew Jared, who as an adult is a comedian like his uncle, also makes an appearance as the “Autograph Kid.”
Just Go With It (2011)
After being burned in love when he finds out his fiancé Veruca cheated on him and married him for his money, Danny (Adam Sandler) decides to tell every future woman he hooks up with that he’s married to avoid commitment and more pain. However, when he meets the woman of his dreams and regrets telling her he’s married, Danny ropes his assistant (Jennifer Aniston) into pretending to be his soon-to-be ex-wife. Jackie Sandler plays Veruca, Danny’s ex-fiance, while his cousin, Jana Sandler, also appears as one of Jackie’s bridesmaids.
The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
The Ridiculous 6 is a western comedy that follows six half-brothers as they begin a search for their deadbeat dad amidst the backdrop of the Wild West. The film features some serious stars, including Sandler, Terry Crews, and Rob Schneider, among others. The Ridiculous 6 also stars Sandler’s wife, Jackie, as Never Wears Bra, and his nephew, Jared, as Babyface Patch.
Little Nicky (2000)
In Little Nicky, two of the Devil’s sons have escaped Hell to create a Hell on Earth — and it’s up to Little Nicky, the Devil’s mild-mannered son, to bring them home. Alongside Adam Sandler, who plays the titular Nicky, his wife Jackie appears in the movie playing the role of an angel named Jenna, one of Nicky’s mother’s right-hand angels. Little Nicky‘s cameos abound, and some fans view it as the movie that properly kicked off the Sandlerverse.
Grown-Ups (2010) & Grown-Ups 2 (2013)
After the death of their high school basketball coach, five former friends and their families come together to reunite and celebrate his legacy. Even though it’s been 30 years since they won the championship, and they’re all grown up now, this group of friends finds they’re still children at heart. Jackie, Sunny, and Sadie all appear in Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2 as the wife and children of Tardio (Riche Minervini), a member of the friends’ rival group.
Jack & Jill (2011)
Despite being fraternal twins, Jack and Jill Sadelstein could not be any more different; and while Jack is a successful family man, Jill is singularly focused on her brother’s attention. Yet despite a gimmick in which both of the movie’s lead roles are played by Adam Sandler, Happy Madison’s Jack & Jill bombed both commercially and critically, with the film often considered one of the worst movies of all time. Both Sadie and Sunny Sandler make appearances in the film in cameos as little girls on the cruise ship Jack & Jill’s family vacations on.
Blended (2014)
Blended tells the story of two chaotic families, starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, that come together after being forced to share a South African vacation package. Despite the mess the vacation turns out to be, the two families still find love in each other. Both Jackie and Sunny Sandler appear in minor roles in the film, playing the Hollywood Stepmom and the Wall Street Stepdaughter, respectively. Sadie Sandler and her grandmother, Judith Sandler, also appear here as the Little League Announcer and her grandmother.
Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Hotel Transylvania is a departure from Adam Sandler’s usual films both commercially and critically, spawning a beloved children’s franchise in the process. The animated movie features Count Dracula (who Adam Sandler played until Hotel Transylvania 4) and his business — the Hotel Transylvania, a luxury holiday destination for monsters looking to unwind. However, the resort’s peaceful veneer is shattered when an ordinary human manages to make his way to the hotel. Jackie Sandler voices Martha, the late wife of Count Dracula, and Sadie Sandler voices both Winnie and young Mavis.
Pixels (2015)
In Adam Sandler’s Pixels, footage of classic arcade gameplay sent into space as part of a time capsule ends up being misinterpreted as a declaration of war by an alien race. When the aliens attack Earth in the form of the video games they’d witnessed, it’s up to Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler) to save the day. Pixels was truly a family affair; Jackie Sandler plays the role of Jennifer, the assistant of a fictional President of the United States (who everyone hates) and Brenner’s childhood friend, Will Cooper (Home Team‘s Kevin James), and Jared Sandler is the White House Junior Aide. Jared. Sunny and Sadie also appear in the film, making cameos as a sweet Girl Scout and Lemonade Sadie.
Hubie Halloween (2020)
Hubie Halloween follows Hubie Dubois (Adam Sandler), an eccentric community volunteer who is frequently the butt of all of Salem’s jokes. However, when mysterious forces threaten the town’s Halloween celebrations, it’s up to Hubie to save the day. Sandler’s wife and both of his daughters all make appearances in this holiday flick; Jackie appears in the film as the journalist Tracy Phillips, Sadie plays the role of Danielle, and Sunny Sandler appears as Cooky.
The Wrong Missy (2020)
The Wrong Missy follows Tim Morris (David Spade) who invites Missy on a work retreat through a text message, he expects to go to Hawaii with the girl of his dreams; however, he realizes too late that he texted the wrong Missy and instead invited one of his previous, eccentric blind dates. Jackie Sandler plays a major role in The Wrong Missy as “The Barracuda,” Tim Morris’ competitive coworker. Jared Sandler also appears as Stuart, and Sadie and Sunny make cameos in the movie as Lobby Strong Sadie and Sunny.
50 First Dates (2004)
Adam Sandler’s Henry Roth is a man afraid of commitment, but when he realizes the girl of his dreams, Lucy, has short-term memory loss, he decides to give her the best first date he can repeatedly in the beloved romantic comedy 50 First Dates. Jackie Sandler makes a brief appearance in the film as a dentist Henry had previously romanced, making for one of the smallest appearances of a Sandler family member.
You Don’t Mess With The Zohan (2008)
Adam Sandler’s You Don’t Mess With The Zohan tells the story of a massive career change, which sees Zohan (Adam Sandler) tire of being an Israeli Special Forces Soldier before faking his death to live out his dream of being a hairstylist in New York City. Jackie and Sadie Sandler both make uncredited appearances in the movie as a mother and daughter who are waiting in line for goat rides.
Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star (2011)
A forgotten Sandler movie that also features Jackie Sandler is Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star. Like many kids, the titular Bucky Larson wants to follow in his parents’ footsteps. This desire inspires Bucky to leave the Midwest for Hollywood to pursue his dream career: being a porn star. Jackie Sandler appears in Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star as a casting director who acts as an unwitting witness to one of Bucky’s failed auditions for a macaroni and cheese commercial.
Murder Mystery (2019)
In Adam Sandler’s Murder Mystery, New York City cop Nick Spitz and his wife, Audrey (Jennifer Aniston), go on a European vacation to bring the spark back to their marriage. The trip doesn’t go to plan, however, as the couple ends up framed for the murder of an elderly billionaire. Jackie Sandler appears credited as the Great Looking Flight Attendant, while Sunny and Sadie play children Brittany and Summer, respectively.
Sandy Wexler (2017)
Another of Adam Sandler’s Netflix movies, Sandy Wexler stars Sandler as the titular Hollywood manager who cares deeply for his clients and does his best to find them success, but cannot seem to break into Hollywood the way he needs to. Jackie Sandler gets one of her bigger roles in any Sandler movie as Amy Baskin, a single mother and aspiring actor who is one of Sandy’s clients. Sunny and Sadie join their mother in playing her on-screen daughters Lola and Jessie.
Home Team (2022)
Home Team stars a few Sandlers, and is based on the true story of NFL coach Sean Payton, who returned home during a one-year suspension in response to Bountygate. During his trip home, Payton (Kevin James) was convinced to coach his son’s football team, ultimately leading the underdogs to victory. Though Sandler himself didn’t appear in the film, it was produced by his production company, Happy Madison Productions. Alongside his close friend, Kevin James, Sandler cast multiple family members in Home Team. Jackie Sandler plays Beth, Sean’s ex-wife and the frequent voice of reason in the film. His daughter Sunny plays Brooke, the love interest for multiple boys on the team, and Jared Sandler, Adam’s nephew, appears as Eric, a hotel desk clerk who performs poorly at his job.
You Are SO Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah! (TBD)
You Are SO Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah! is the next upcoming Adam Sandler movie that brings Jackie, Sadie, and Sunny Sandler back together on the big screen. The coming of age story will be based on the novel by Fiona Rosenbloom, and as the title suggests, it will explore the unique experience Jewish girls go through as they make the leap into womanhood. Which Sandler is playing which role hasn’t been revealed in this Adam Sandler project, but all four Sandlers are involved alongside Idina Menzel and Luis Guzmán.