Why does Sony Pictures keep making Adam Sandler films?

Does he have an incredible 50-picture deal with the studio? Is he blackmailing Amy Pascal?

Happy Madison's films have, for the most part, received mixed to negative critical reception. As of June 2012, the only films to have received a 'fresh' rating are Reign Over Me and Funny People. Yet most movies, as per the table above, have been commercial successes relative to their production costs.

And they are SO expensive!

2007 - I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry - $85 million
2008 - You Don't Mess with the Zohan - $90 million
2010 - Grown Ups - $80 million
Just Go with It - $80 million
Zookeeper - $80 million
Jack and Jill - $79 million
2012 -That's My Boy - $70 million
Ken Miyamoto, Produced screenwriter, former Sony Pictures script reader/story analyst, form...

Ken has 1,770+ answers and 35 endorsements in Movies.

Answer featured in Business Insider.

Because they make money.  

Adam Sandler has an almost guaranteed audience and demographic.  

While his films do have their mishaps, from a monetary perspective, Sandler is very consistent overall.  

That's My Boy was a flop yes.  The worldwide gross was just $57 million against a reported $70 million budget.  

However, his two films before and after turned a great profit:

• Jack and Jill - A critical failure, however it made $150 million worldwide against a $79 million budget.  A profit is a profit.
• Hotel Transylvania - A huge success for him.  $346 million worldwide against just an $80 million budget.  

Just Go With It, while not a notable Sandler film in my opinion (not terrible, but not great), grossed $215 million worldwide against a budget of $80 million.  

Grown Ups made $217 million against another $80 million budget.  

You Don't Mess with the Zohan made $200 million against a heftier $90 million budget.  

Click made $237 million off of an $82.5 million budget.

50 First Dates made $196 million off of a $75 million budget. 

Anger Management made $196 million off of a $75 million budget.  

Even Mr. Deeds, which I think is one of his worst, made $171 million off of a smaller $50 million budget.  

So as you go down his films with Sony, you'll see this constant trend of budget vs. worldwide gross.  It's likely that Happy Madison's deal dictates that they generally have to stick with an $80 million budget, give or take a few million.  

And you'll see that it's almost a proven formula.  

$80 million per film and mid $200 million per gross.   Only That's My Boy, his more art house dramatic turns in Reign Over Me and Punch Drunk Love (both low budget), and Spanglish, lost money in the box office.  And much of that was likely recouped when you figure in DVD sales, TV rights, etc.

So why is Sony always in the Happy Madison/Adam Sandler business?  Because his films are a proven formula.  He is perhaps one of the most consistent movie star working in the business in that respect.  

Beyond that, he's an amazing guy to work with.  Happy Madison is a Sony staple.  During my days at Sony, I worked with them a lot and they are very down to earth.  There is no diva attitude.  They don't have high demands.  They aren't assholes despite the money they make for the studio.  

Grown Ups 2 Made Happy Madison "formula" guarantees, with a worldwide take of $247 million off of, yes, an $80 million budget. 

Blended was made on a lower risk budget of $40 million, and will likely end up at a lackluster $60 million plus worldwide. 

Sure, we'll likely see a miss here and there, but overall his films make money.  Good money.