The Waterboy

1998

The Waterboy

Critics Consensus

This is an insult to its genre with low humor and cheap gags.

35%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 75

71%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 910,732
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The Waterboy Photos

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Movie Info

Despite being the constant target of gross jokes and public humiliation from the university football team players he serves, lowly water boy Bobby Boucher loves his job and thinks dispensing water to dehydrated athletes is life's greatest calling. However, when he is unceremoniously fired, for no reason other than pure ineptitude, Bobby gets a chance with a team that's clumsy with a football on the field as he is with a water jug on the side lines.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (for language and some crude sexual humor)
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Directed By:
    Frank Coraci
  • Written By:
    Tim Herlihy, Adam Sandler
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Touchstone Pictures

Cast

Adam Sandler
as Bobby Boucher
Kathy Bates
as Mama Boucher
Henry Winkler
as Coach Klein
Fairuza Balk
as Vicki Vallencourt
Jerry Reed
as Red Beaulieu
Blake Clark
as Farmer Fran
Lawrence Gilliard Jr.
as Derek Wallace
Peter Dante
as Gee Grenouille
Jonathan Loughran
as Lyle Robideaux
Paul Wight
as Captain Insano
Rob Schneider
as Townie
Clint Howard
as Paco
Jimmy Johnson
as Himself
Bill Cowher
as Himself
Lynn Swann
as Himself
Lawrence Taylor
as Himself
Dan Patrick
as Himself
Brent Musberger
as Himself
Dan Fouts
as Himself
Lee Corso
as Himself
Chris Fowler
as Himself
Larry Gilliard
Al Whiting
as Casey Bugge
Allen Covert
as Walter
Todd Holland
as Greg Meaney
Robert Kokol
as Professor
Frank Coraci
as Roberto
Jennifer Bini Taylor
as Rita
James Bates Jr.
as West Mississippi Lineman
Kelly Hare
as Drunk Cheerleader
Dawn Birch
as Red's Watergirl
Steve Raulerson
as Sheriff Loughran
Chris Mugglebee
as Sheriff Jack
Brett Rice
as Laski
John Farley
as Tony Dodd
Kevin P. Farley
as Jim Simonds
Jamie Williams
as Young Bobby
Marc Kittay
as Youngest Bobby
Matt Baylis
as Student
Jack Carroll
as Bible College Coach
Tom Nowicki
as Community College Coach
Ric Swezey
as Male Cheerleader
Matthew Lussier
as Redneck
Haven Gaston
as Tina
Michael Hold
as Central Kentucky Quarterback
Kevin Reid
as West Mississippi Quarterback
Mattie Wolf
as Cajun Lady
Phyllis Alia
as Assistant
Dave Wagner
as Announcer
Tina Barr
as Cheerleader
Michael Giarraputo
as Bourbon Bowl Statistician
Marty Eli Schwartz
as Moderator
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News & Interviews for The Waterboy

Box Office Wrapup: Sandler Fast Forwards to #1
Box Office Preview: Sandler "Clicks" With New Comedy
Trailer Bulletin: Stick It
View All

Critic Reviews for The Waterboy

All Critics (75) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (49)

  • A witless and utterly predictable comic fantasy about a misfit turned hero.

    June 18, 2012 | Full Review…

    Andrew O'Hehir

    Sight and Sound
    Top Critic

  • Really dumb, but many teens love it anyway.

    December 29, 2010 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

    Nell Minow

    Common Sense Media
    Top Critic

  • An agreeable yet forgettable comedy...

    July 10, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    David Nusair

    Reel Film Reviews
    Top Critic

  • There's an innocence to The Waterboy that makes the picture part slapstick and part fairy tale...The only problem with letting kids see this Adam Sandler movie? They might want to see another one. [Blu-ray]

    August 12, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Peter Canavese

    Groucho Reviews
    Top Critic

  • A predictable, formulaic, dumb comedy that has about as much depth as Bobby . . . unless you think of it in Forrest Gump terms, and then it begins to get a little less offensive and a little funnier.

    July 24, 2009 | Rating: 5/10 | Full Review…

    James Plath

    Movie Metropolis
    Top Critic

  • Though unabashedly goofy, this comedy also boasts some subtly ingenious moments of mirth.

    October 18, 2008 | Full Review…

    Christine James

    Boxoffice Magazine
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (75)

Audience Reviews for The Waterboy

  • Oct 07, 2013
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img]
    Directors C Super Reviewer
  • Jan 03, 2013
    Adam Sandler's first real misstep, "The Waterboy" is dull and incompetent and just not real good. The jokes can work sometimes (which is something that I didn't expect), but they fall flat more often than not. The storytelling is about as uninspired as it gets, it's poorly put-together and most of the actors speak with outrageously annoying accents. In the end, "The Waterboy" is more harmless than it is downright awful, but it can be pretty painful to watch at times.
    Stephen E Super Reviewer
  • Dec 27, 2012
    Likely the greatest of the Adam Sandler movies, the Waterboy benefits from a creative storyline and a fabulous supporting cast. Sandler is not painting by numbers and the result is good entertainment.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Dec 22, 2012
    "The Waterboy" was one of those movies I saw once when I was much younger and went many years thinking it was hilarious. That illusion was shattered when I finally watched it again and couldn't even force a smile in the first 30 minutes. I suppose the premise of a film making a mockery of a mental impairment wears off with age. Truly abysmal.
    Tom R Super Reviewer
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