The Waterboy

The Waterboy (1998)

  • 32% of critics liked it
    (73 reviews)

  • 74% of users liked it
    (845,335 ratings)

As with his previous films, comedian Adam Sandler and writing partner Tim Herlihy have conceived a simple premise, character, and title, and peppered their creation with visual sight gags. The story concerns Bobby Boucher, a Louisiana-born-and-bred kid living in the swamps with his overbearing,… More

PG-13,
Directed By
Written By
Tim Herlihy, Adam Sandler
Genres
Comedy
In Theaters
Nov 6, 1998 Wide
Touchstone Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Glenn Lovell, Variety

    The formulaic mix of mirth and mayhem is aimed way down the MTV food chain...

  • , Time Out

    The direction is as blunt and vacant as the plotting, the jokes are obvious and the performances (with a couple of exceptions) charmless.

  • Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

    The film is amiably goofy.

  • John Haslett Cuff, Globe and Mail

    As a satire on the only true religion of the American South -- football -- The Waterboy is delightful.

  • Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

    We've got somewhat entertaining trash here.

Read all 19 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Universal D


    Often the funniest aspect of Adam Sandler movies, the biggest joke, is the most irritating as well: that he and his crew are laughing at the audience and the film industry simultaneously. Waterboy is one example of this conceit in spades, and like many of his efforts in this vein is… More

  • AJ V


    One of Sandler's best loved movies of the 90s, this comedy is fun, humourous, and full of life. Of course there are a good number of stupid jokes in it too, but overall it's very funny.

  • Alexander D


    THE WATERBOY is a dumb football farce and just another predictable Adam Sandler comedy. It was possible to laugh in some scenes, but this, overall, was not very funny. It stars Adam Sandler as the title role, a 31-year-old named Bobby Boucher with the obnoxious voice of a… More

  • Unknown H


    I don't know what to think about Adam Sandler half the time and although I would say I am most certainly a fan, I found this movie more irritating than amusing. Saying that though, talking like his character in this movie is definitely a must when completely drunk.

  • Eric A


    I used to think it was funny, but that's because I was younger when this came out.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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