50 First Dates

Right now you can watch 50 First Dates in Australia on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on fuboTV and YouTube TV — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Adam Sandler — stay for everyone else around them. Available now on Netflix — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

50 First Dates is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate 50 First Dates from the crowd. Henry is a player skilled at seducing women. But when this veterinarian meets Lucy, a girl with a quirky problem when it comes to total recall, he realizes it's possible to fall in love all over again…and again, and again. That's because the delightful Lucy has no short-term memory, so Henry must woo her day after day until he finally sweeps her off her feet. Between them, Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore carry the comedy without ever forcing it. It hit screens in 2004. The timing in 50 First Dates is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

50 First Dates is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Adam Sandler's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.