Adam Sandler has vowed to make at least 50 more films before retiring, delivering the promise during a typically self-deprecating and crowd-pleasing speech at AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards. The annual ceremony, which celebrates creatives over the age of 50 and aims to challenge ageism in the entertainment industry, took place at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills on Saturday night.
Accepting the honour, Sandler joked that several people in his life had informed him that receiving the award meant he was officially “old”. He was quick to clarify that the signs had been there long before the trophy. “It’s not because of this award – I got ten other reasons that let you know why,” he told the audience, setting the tone for a speech that leaned heavily into his trademark humour.
@whatssnewss Adam Sandler: I will make at least 50 more movies before I am dead, at least 25 of them will be good." . #news #adamsandler #variety ♬ original sound - Sharneyrod
The comedian then rattled through a series of increasingly outrageous examples of why he feels his age, including jokes about needing “a Viagra just to take a pee” and sending text messages so large they could be read by “anyone with a window seat on a Delta flight”. The crowd erupted as Sandler continued to roast himself, leaning into the kind of observational comedy that has defined his career for more than three decades.
He also poked fun at his modern viewing habits, admitting that award season screeners rarely hold his attention for long. “When I received the Academy Award screeners app, even though I press play on 44 different movies, I can only stay awake for a combined total of eight minutes,” he said, drawing raucous laughter from the room.
@people #AdamSandler, the man that you are! #GoldenGlobes #GoldenGlobes2026 ♬ original sound - People Magazine
While the jokes landed easily, Sandler’s pledge to keep making movies was met with genuine enthusiasm. At 59, the actor, writer and producer remains one of Hollywood’s most bankable and prolific figures. He first rose to fame in the early 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, before becoming a box office staple with comedies such as Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore and The Waterboy. Over time, he has also earned critical acclaim for dramatic turns in films like Punch-Drunk Love, The Meyerowitz Stories and Uncut Gems.
In recent years, Sandler has entered a new phase of his career through his ongoing partnership with Netflix, producing a steady stream of films that consistently attract huge global audiences. Titles such as Murder Mystery, Hustle and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah have introduced him to younger viewers while maintaining loyalty among long-time fans.
The spirit of the Movies for Grownups Awards aligns closely with Sandler’s message. The event exists to spotlight the value of experience in an industry often obsessed with youth, and Sandler’s comments served as both a joke and a quiet rebuttal to the idea that creativity has an expiry date.
If his promise holds true, audiences can expect to see Adam Sandler on screens for many years to come — naps, oversized text messages and all.
