Adam Sandler was 32 when he starred in Big Daddy (Image: Jim Smeal, Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
A “wonderfully heartwarming” film is departing Netflix on February 1, making it essential viewing before its removal.
Comedy legend Adam Sandler portrays Sonny Koufax, a 32-year-old law graduate recently jilted by his girlfriend (Joey Lauren Adams) for a more mature suitor.
Determined to prove his readiness for responsibility, he takes in five-year-old Julian (played by Dylan Sprouse), only to discover that parenthood presents unexpected challenges.
“Watched Big Daddy this year,” one Rotten Tomatoes reviewer wrote. “This is a hilarious comedy movie with Adam Sandler… everything goes wrong.”
Reviewer Charlie added: “The storytelling is wonderfully heartwarming… a movie with Adam Sandler in New York City in the 90s is practically made to be a great movie.”
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He added: “Overall I would rate the movie five stars out of five stars. This is just a heartwarming movie that’s also funny; I would recommend this movie.”
This 1999 comedy gem, helmed by director Dennis Barton Dugan – who collaborated with Sandler on Happy Gilmore – remains beloved by viewers. “Enjoyable [and has] lots of heart,” Shane remarked.
Another fan described it as a “solid movie with slapstick humour – [a] classic Adam Sandler movie”. Having secured the People’s Choice Award for favourite comedy motion picture in 2000, Big Daddy continues to resonate with audiences today.
Another reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes commented: “Amazing movie. I loved it. Just one of the funniest movies ever made! Adam Sandler did such an amazing job as Sonny. Big Daddy gets a perfect five-out-of-five stars from me!”
The pair filmed Big Daddy in New York (Image: Arnaldo Magnani, Getty Images)
According to the International Movie Database (IMDb), Big Daddy earned approximately £30,389,046 at the box office during its opening weekend in the US and Canada alone.
Given the estimated production budget was roughly £25,020,027, the crew and production team certainly recouped their investment. Globally, the film generated around £171,832,722 at the box office – excluding licensing deals.
However, not everyone appreciates the humour in Adam Sandler’s work; one Rotten Tomatoes reviewer described many of his films, including Big Daddy, as “nauseating and crass”.
“Big Daddy is just a lousy movie with cheap humour and weak writing,” another critic noted. “The weakest link I have with this film has to be the story; I can see that it’s trying to have potential but the script feels overwhelmingly pointless.” Critic Ciaran acknowledged: “Well, [there] are a few decent moments and its heart is in the right place.”
Ultimately, your opinion of the film remains your own decision. Whilst Big Daddy is departing Netflix, the movie remains available on platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, NOW, and Sky Store.
