The Waterboy

Name: The Waterboy
Genre: Sport, Comedy
Released: November 6, 1998
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 41
Cast: Adam Sandler, Henry Winkler, Kathy Bates

1998

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 371 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 371 Ratings

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The Waterboy

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: November 6, 1998 | PG-13

Starring: Adam Sandler, Henry Winkler, Kathy Bates

Summary: Just an oddball mama's boy from the back bayous of Louisiana, Bobby Boucher (Sandler) never wanted anything more than to quench the thirst of the dehydrated athletes who treat him like dirt! But when Coach Klein (Winkler) makes the call that allows Bobby to finally stand up for himself, it unleashes a torrent of bottled-up frustration ...Just an oddball mama's boy from the back bayous of Louisiana, Bobby Boucher (Sandler) never wanted anything more than to quench the thirst of the dehydrated athletes who treat him like dirt! But when Coach Klein (Winkler) makes the call that allows Bobby to finally stand up for himself, it unleashes a torrent of bottled-up frustration ... and exposes a talent for tackling that transforms him from a meek "water distribution engineer" into the hardest hitter ever to roam the gridiron! (Buena Vista Entertainment)… Expand

Director: Frank Coraci

Genre(s): Sport, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 90 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

James Berardinelli

Arguably Sandler's most enjoyable motion picture to date, but it's still far from a masterpiece. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

No one does deranged quite like Kathy Bates (the film's running gag involving Bates and the delicacies of Cajun cuisine is hilarious). Read full review

Rita Kempley

The Perrier of dumb-and-dumber movies, an effervescent idiot's delight that burbles from the wellspring of silliness inside star Adam Sandler's head. Read full review

Susan Wloszczyna

As funny as it can be, this underdawg comedy isn't much more than Sandler's golf-oriented "Happy Gilmore" with a Cajun accent. [6 November 1998, p. 10E]

Lisa Alspector

Geek-triumphs-after-all comedies can be charming, but in this one the triumphing begins so early it's hard to feel for the geek. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Of course it's dumb, but every 10 minutes or so, it's also pretty funny. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Becomes yet another lame sports farce. Read full review

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User Reviews

StormTroopB

Mar 6, 2015

Nostalgic Value is off the charts! Great movie everyone should see it at least once. If you like sports this one will really hit the spot its a great mix of comedy and action.

21 of 23 users found this helpful212

Rind

Apr 23, 2021

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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Sosmooth1982

Jan 14, 2023

This is another favorite movie of mine. I laugh my ass off everytime I watch this movie. He's a waterboy for the worst college football team ever. He gets tired of them and others picking on him all the time for his speech impediment. He tackles one of the football players cause he's angryThis is another favorite movie of mine. I laugh my ass off everytime I watch this movie. He's a waterboy for the worst college football team ever. He gets tired of them and others picking on him all the time for his speech impediment. He tackles one of the football players cause he's angry and the coach asks him to play for the team.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Dr-WILY

Aug 16, 2018

Yeah some parts are funny but its not my number one sure some movies seem like pure gold unless you watched when your four tears old

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

TheWalrus2000

Mar 9, 2013

Hilarious.

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Jeimz

Jun 16, 2012

I cant say I particularly disliked this movie but I cant say I liked it either, I liked what it had to offer, but it didn't offer much. This movie earns a passing grade, albeit barely.

0 of 8 users found this helpful08

Trailesque

May 11, 2020

This dumb comedy is a strong candidate for worst flick of the 1990s. Sandler does an unbelievably annoying Andy Kaufman shtick all the way thru.

0 of 21 users found this helpful021

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22	#22 Most Discussed Movie of 1998
59	#59 Most Shared Movie of 1998