Here's Why Netflix Wants Adam Sandler Even Though Critics Trash His Movies
It may seem like a strange deal for Netflix to take on, considering Sandler's more recent films including "That's My Boy" and "Blended" have been critically panned.
However, it's probably one of the smartest moves Netflix has made to date.
Critics aside, most of Sandler's movies do extremely well at the box office, and if they're not hits domestically, they perform well overseas.
With the exception of the "Grown Ups" series, Sandler's movies have been performing progressively worse stateside. On the flip side, his movies have slowly been making more overseas than at home.
Here is a look at Sandler's comedies from 2006 to 2014.
Four of his films since 2011 have made more money at the foreign box office than domestically.
So it's not a surprise Netflix says Sandler's films are among the most viewed by subscribers not only in the US but around the world in its 40-plus territories including Brazil and the UK.
The Sandler films available to stream vary by country.
NetflixBrazil has a wide selection of Sandler's comedy hits to stream this month.
NetflixThe UK has a smaller selection of similar Sandler movies including "Billy Madison" and box-office bomb "Jack and Jill."
If you look up Adam Sandler on Netflix in the US, you'll find an even smaller selection of films. The biggest noticeable difference here is that the US version of Netflix contains more serious Sandler roles like "Punch-Drunk Love" and "Reign Over Me."
Netflix
"People love Adam?s [sic] films on Netflix and often watch them again and again. His appeal spans across viewers of all ages - everybody has a favorite movie, everyone has a favorite line - not just in the US but all over the world,"? Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said in Thursday's press release.
According to Vulture, the budgets for the four films are similar to those of Sandler's previous works. Sandler's most recent films have average budgets of $75 million to $80 million, while his less-expensive films like "Blended" cost $40 million. The Wall Street Journal reports one film is expected to be put out per year.Regardless of what anyone may think of a Sandler film, it's clear people go out to see his films. According to Netflix, it's clear that people enjoy rewatching his movies over and over, and if not here, then elsewhere around the world.
That's where Netflix sees the payoff with Sandler.
Will these movies be awful in the eyes of critics? If history is any precedent, surely. Will they have crude humor that will make you roll your eyes? You can probably bet yes.
Regardless, will you secretly stream the films in the comfort of your home while trying to maintain that Sandler films are not funny or at least amusing? Probably.
Netflix probably thinks so, too.