Adam Sandler was chosen by Forbes as the highest-paid actor of 2023 (European News Agency)

Forbes magazine has officially chosen comedian Adam Sandler as the highest-paid actor of 2023, after he earned nearly one hundred million dollars last year, which is considered an exceptional achievement in light of the “Barnheimer” phenomenon, which has made it impossible to talk about other films except “Oppenheimer.” And "Barbie" is very difficult.

500 million hours

It became clear during the first 6 months of 2023 that Sandler was on his way to achieving an unprecedented achievement, when the Netflix platform announced that the work of the comedian, who is nearly 60 years old, had been watched for more than 500 million hours, and in return he received $97 million.

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At the same time, Adam participated in a simple science fiction film, Spaceman, after which it sparked controversy among critics because of its level, which did not satisfy many. They raised a big question about the motive that makes Sandler present low-level films even though he can... He can choose his roles as he pleases, given his popularity and ability to generate revenue.

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anisto in Murder Mystery (Netflix)

Sandler resorted to the logic followed by a Hollywood director with a history full of successes when he was asked about the mediocrity of some of his films. He said, “One for them, one for me.” He summed it up by affirming that he agreed to make a film that the producer preferred in exchange for obtaining the budget necessary to produce the film that he wanted to produce next. .

Although it is a smart way to overcome the difficulties of being present in the cinema and production market, what is more difficult is creating a balance between the two types, what the producer wants to produce, and what the director aspires to, and actor Adam Sandler has so far succeeded in equalizing Scorsese, to be crowned with a prize of one hundred million dollars for the year. 2023, and maintains its ability to present good films.

Disastrous start

Sandler began his career by starring in some rather mediocre comedies such as Valerie Breyman's critically acclaimed 1989 film Going Overboard. In it, he plays a struggling young comedian who takes on... He takes a humble job on a cruise ship in hopes of getting his big break at work.

The film was almost completely ignored, and did not reach a wider audience until later in 1995, when he became a regular member of the hugely popular Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast for 5 full years.

Adam Sandler surprised everyone, critics and audiences, in 1991 on a completely different level when he starred in “Shakes the Clown” as an addicted clown in a comedy by director Robert Goldthwait. When he was criticized for his first choices, Scorsese himself defended Sandler, saying: His comedic abilities in this type of role are perfect.

The actor continued to present satirical comedy that is not subject to logic in his films, including “Coneheads,” “Airheads,” and “Mixed Nuts.” In parallel, he continued as a founding member of the “Saturday Night” team. Live” (SNL) to raise money.

Rare monetary satisfaction

His film “The Wedding Singer” grossed more than $123 million in 1998, while its production cost only exceeded $13 million. He then turned to producing himself and even wrote some of his films, adding to his credit the writer’s wages and the producer’s profits.

Adam Sandler was absent until 2002, after which he performed one of his best roles in the sarcastic romantic comedy “Punch Drunk Love” by writer and director Paul Thomas Anderson. In this work, the comedian presented a role that did not belong to his world, even if it seemed like an extension of what He presented it before, as he maintained his distinctive performance style as an actor, but presented a role that was strange to him, which is the role of a very troubled businessman who suffers from social anxiety and falls in love with his sister’s co-worker.

The role was deep, nuanced, and more than its fair share of soul-searching, but it also had the element of absurdist comedy expected of the actor.

The new role brought significant critical praise, and Sandler continued his box office successes in works such as "Mr. Deeds", "The Hot Chick", and "Anger Management".

In 2017, he appeared with Ben Stiller and Dustin Hoffman in the film “The Meyerowitz Stories” by director Noah Baumbach, a comedy film set in New York that revolves around a dysfunctional family who comes together in New York to attend a party for their father’s artwork.

Fortunately, we only had to wait another two years for Sandler to take on another exciting role when he starred in the crime thriller Uncut Gems, which won a number of awards and propelled him to further critical success.

When Adam Sandler is asked about an explanation for this disparity in the artistic level between his works, he cannot provide adequate answers, but he tells a story in which he says: “Every time I play a role in a movie or series, the director says: ‘Hey Sandler, the critics will say something about you. Well at this job, I say, 'No, they will never do it.'" Perhaps this desperation, in addition to the large revenues, is what drives Adam Sandler to continue making comedies that critics do not like, but which are widely accepted by audiences.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies