Leo

Leo has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 1,375 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Adam Sandler leads a cast with real comic timing. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Leo arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Leo gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Jaded 74-year-old reptile Leo has been stuck in the same Florida classroom for decades with his terrarium-mate turtle. When he learns he only has one year left to live, he plans to escape to experience life on the outside but instead gets caught up in the problems of his anxious students — including an impossibly mean substitute teacher. Adam Sandler and Bill Burr lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2023. Leo earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Leo respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Adam Sandler is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.