Why It Ranks
The Longest Yard remake delivered the biggest box office of Sandler's sports comedies. Chris Rock's supporting turn is hilarious. Burt Reynolds's cameo honors the original. The football sequences are surprisingly well-staged for a comedy.
The Film
The 2005 remake of The Longest Yard trades Burt Reynolds's cool for Adam Sandler's goofiness, and it works better than it should. Chris Rock provides sharp comic commentary. Nelly, Bob Sapp, and real pro wrestlers fill out the inmate team. Burt Reynolds returns in a supporting role, passing the torch. It grossed $190M — massively outperforming the original.
Fun Facts
Burt Reynolds played the coach role, 31 years after starring as the quarterback in the original.
Several real NFL and WWE stars appear, including Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bill Goldberg.
Chris Rock ad-libbed many of his lines as the team's unofficial hype man.
Despite poor reviews, the film was Sandler's second-highest-grossing movie at the time.
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