Yes, There's An Adam Sandler Cinematic Universe You May Have Missed This Whole Time
Ever since Marvel Studios created their own cinematic universe for all their comic book characters to exist in on the big screen, the idea of a shared universe between film franchises has been quite popular in Hollywood. No one has really been able to replicate the kind of success Marvel has had just yet, but Warner Bros. Pictures is going to try with their DC Films universe when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice arrives this spring.
But cinematic universes just aren't for comic book movies. In fact, in the world of comedy, there has been a cinematic universe that you may have never noticed. Adam Sandler has been starring in movies since the '90s, and it turns out he may have been crafting what one man calls "The Sandlerverse" this whole time. Check out the compelling evidence for the Adam Sandler universe below.
Here's Shawn Kohne's explanation of The Sandlerverse from Mashable:
The first link explained is an easy one, and it's probably something you already knew about before. In 50 First Dates, Dan Aykroyd's doctor character refers to a company called "TB Callahan" out of Sandusky, Ohio, which is clearly a reference to Tommy Boy and the Callahan Auto company from that movie. Tommy Boy isn't an Adam Sandler movie, but this just goes to show you that Adam Sandler's comedy universe goes a little wider than you might think.
While there are more obvious connections like Rob Schneider's "You can do it!" character from The Waterboy appearing in other movies, some of the connections explained by this guy who clearly has drunk too many Monster energy drinks are nothing more than references to Sandler's other films as opposed to being narrative links. For example, the golf swing from 50 First Dates and the "bull dance" from Blended are both references to Happy Gilmore, but don't indicate that the movies take place in the same universe.
Anyway, this is just a fun little detour that serves as a reminder that at one point, Sandler actually made funny movies. Lately, they have just been self-indulgent comedies with inside jokes that reference the days when Sandler was at the top of his game.