Anger Management

PG-13 2003 Comedy · At 106 minutes, it maintains manic energy throughout with surprisingly few slow moments.
Mixed reception mediocrity
6.3/10
IMDb
42%
Rotten
52
52/100
Metacritic
2.85/5
Letterboxd
🎬
6.2/10
TMDB
Rewatch
diminishing returns
Attention
half watch ok
Phone-check
medium
Ages
dated in parts

The brief

Adam Sandler's manic energy gets perfectly matched by Jack Nicholson's unhinged therapist in this surprisingly physical comedy that feels like watching two comedy legends arm-wrestle for 100 minutes. The premise starts simple but spirals into increasingly absurd territory, with Nicholson basically playing the Joker as a licensed mental health professional who torments Sandler's milquetoast everyman. It's messier and more chaotic than Sandler's usual fare, but Nicholson's gleeful menace elevates the whole thing into something genuinely unpredictable. Perfect for anyone who loves watching great actors chew scenery together or misses when comedies felt dangerous and a little mean-spirited.

buddy comedy chaos therapeutic nightmare sandler manic energy nicholson unhinged escalating absurdity mean-spirited laughs

The verdict

If you love watching comedy legends go completely unhinged and don't mind messy, mean-spirited humor, this is a chaotic treat that showcases Nicholson at his most gleefully menacing. If you prefer tighter storytelling or find Sandler's manic energy grating, the increasingly absurd premise and mixed critical reception suggest you should look elsewhere.

Watch with

  • 👥 Comedy fans who love actor chemistry
  • ⚠️ Those seeking feel-good family comedy

Heads up

  • Aggressive behavior and verbal confrontation (frequent)
  • Adult themes and sexual references (moderate)
  • Psychological manipulation scenes (moderate)

Credits

Director
Peter Segal
Cast
Adam Sandler, Jack Nicholson, Marisa Tomei, Luis Guzmán, Allen Covert, Lynne Thigpen, Kurt Fuller
Official synopsis

After a small misunderstanding aboard an airplane escalates out of control, timid businessman Dave Buznik is

The Double

Make a night of it
Poster for Scary Movie

Pair this with Scary Movie (2026)

Both comedies feature therapy sessions and escalating misunderstandings with absurd consequences.

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