It is well-known that comedy superstar Adam Sandler loves to surround himself with frequent collaborators, and one particular cameo added a new long-term member to the troupe. While he currently spends most of his time making movies for Netflix as part of a lucrative deal, Sander gets lots of flack for his comedy stylings from some, it is rare to hear anything bad said about the man personally. Those who have worked with Adam Sandler usually tell tales of an easy-going, kind person who is hard not to like.
With that in mind, it is no wonder that Sandler has amassed a large group of fellow actors and comedians who tend to work with him repeatedly. Some of them, like David Spade, Chris Rock, and Rob Schneider, have been regular Sandler collaborators since the 1990s on Saturday Night Live, although that did not stop NBC from abruptly firing Sandler from SNL later on. Others, such as Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Aniston, and Steve Buscemi became pals after he was already a movie star.
One of the later additions to the large group of Sandler’s favorite recurring co-stars came via a very quick cameo in the 2004 romantic comedy 50 First Dates. Early in the movie, a montage is seen of main character Henry’s ex-lovers, which surprisingly includes a male factory worker, played by Kevin James. It is unclear if this is meant to imply Henry is bisexual or whether it is just a throwaway gag, but either way, this cameo was actually James’—then star of the King of Queens sitcom—first big-screen appearance. James and Adam Sandler became fast friends, and he has appeared in many Sandler projects since, both in large and small roles.
Every Adam Sandler & Kevin James Movie
As a testament to Sandler and James’ friendship and partnership as performers, Sandler actually made a guest appearance on an episode of The King of Queens in 2007, which was followed shortly by their signature collaboration in the gay marriage comedy I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Not only have Sandler and James shared the screen in movies many times since, but Sandler’s Happy Madison company has also produced movies James played the lead in, such as Paul Blart: Mall Cop and the more recent James vehicle Home Team. As for the movies they have appeared in together, here is the full rundown:
- 50 First Dates (2004)
- I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007)
- You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (2008)
- Grown Ups (2010)
- Hotel Transylvania (2012)
- Grown Ups 2 (2013)
- Pixels (2015)
- Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
- Sandy Wexler (2017)
- Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)
- Hubie Halloween (2020)
Why Adam Sandler & Kevin James Appear In So Many Movies Together
In this case, the reason Sandler and James work together so often is one neither hesitates to admit. Sandler and James are very close friends, their families are also close, and both men just downright love being on set together. When asked about why they collaborate so much, Adam Sandler and Kevin James will sometimes make playful jokes about their process, but at the end of the day, they simply enjoy working together and want to do it as often as possible.
