Why did critics despise this Adam Sandler comedy while audiences still turned up in droves?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Released in 2013, Grown Ups 2 became a lightning rod for critical vitriol, earning a dismal 8 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Yet, despite being labeled a plotless, crude disaster by reviewers, the film was a financial success, grossing 247 million dollars worldwide against an 80 million dollar production budget.

Directed by Dennis Dugan and produced by Happy Madison Productions, the film reunited Adam Sandler with costars Kevin James, Chris Rock, and David Spade. The narrative follows Lenny Feder, played by Sandler, as he relocates his family to his hometown of Stanton. The plot is largely a series of loosely connected, often scatological sketches involving local bullies, a college fraternity, and various domestic mishaps. It was the first sequel of Sandler’s career and featured a wide array of cameos, including WWE star Steve Austin.

The critical reception was overwhelmingly negative. Reviewers frequently cited the film’s reliance on gross-out humor, lack of narrative structure, and perceived laziness. Many critics expressed frustration that a talented cast of Saturday Night Live alumni was being squandered on material they deemed beneath their capabilities. At the 2014 Golden Raspberry Awards, the production received nine nominations, highlighting its status as a frequent target for those who found its brand of infantile anarchy particularly grating.

Despite the harsh reviews, the film maintained a solid connection with its audience, earning a B grade from CinemaScore. Its financial performance was robust, securing a net profit of 48 million dollars. The film's cultural footprint even extended to the podcasting world, where comedians Tim Batt and Guy Montgomery famously watched it weekly for an entire year for their show, The Worst Idea of All Time. While critics saw a death-of-cinema project, the film’s commercial viability has kept the possibility of a third installment in the franchise alive for years.

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