Hubie Halloween: Adam Sandler’s Quirky Halloween Comedy That’s Worth Its Weight in Razzie Nominations

Adam Sandler has done it again — delivering another late-career comedy that’s both nostalgic and ridiculous in equal measure. Hubie Halloween, a 2020 Netflix Original, is one of those films that perfectly sums up Sandler’s brand of goofy humor — half comforting, half cringe, but somehow still watchable.

Directed by Steven Brill and produced by Happy Madison Productions, the film runs for 102 minutes and stars Sandler as Hubie Dubois, a sweet but socially awkward deli worker from Salem, Massachusetts. Hubie is obsessed with two things: Halloween and safety. His trusty Swiss Army thermos doubles as a gadget for nearly everything — soup container, grappling hook, even a weapon. Sadly, his enthusiasm makes him the town joke. Kids and adults alike throw things at him as he bikes around Salem trying to keep everyone safe.

When Halloween night arrives, strange things begin happening. Hubie’s neighbors start disappearing, and a suspicious newcomer, Walter Lambert (Steve Buscemi), might actually be a 359-year-old werewolf. Add in a shady couple — Lester (Tim Meadows) and Mary Hennessey (Maya Rudolph) — known for pranking Hubie for years, and you’ve got a mystery that only Salem’s most ridiculed citizen can solve. Meanwhile, Sergeant Steve Downey (Kevin James), tired of Hubie’s constant reports of “suspicious activity,” gives him a fake undercover badge to keep him occupied. Of course, Hubie takes the bogus job seriously — and chaos follows.

Hubie Halloween brings back a ton of familiar Sandler collaborators, including Rob Schneider, Kenan Thompson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ben Stiller. The whole cast feels like a Happy Madison family reunion, which is part of the film’s charm. Even if the jokes don’t land for everyone, there’s a comfortable sense of nostalgia watching these faces clown around again.

The movie doesn’t aim to reinvent comedy. It’s by-the-numbers Sandler, leaning heavily on physical gags, silly voices, and goofy costumes. Yet, there’s an undeniable warmth beneath the nonsense. Hubie may be mocked constantly, but his kindness and optimism never fade. That’s the heart of the movie — a message that being decent, even in the face of ridicule, can still save the day.

Critically, the film received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds around 52%, with the consensus being that it’s “sweet enough to satisfy Sandler fans.” While it didn’t wow critics, it was a top-streamed title on Netflix for two weeks after release. According to IMDb, audiences described it as a “fun and harmless Halloween movie” — something to play in the background while carving pumpkins or decorating.

The film also earned attention from the Golden Raspberry Awards (Razzies), landing three nominations at the 41st ceremony: Worst Actor (Adam Sandler), Worst Screen Combo (Sandler and his grating simpleton voice), and Worst Prequel/Remake/Rip-off (for being a “rip-off of Ernest Scared Stupid”).

Sure, Hubie Halloween won’t change your life — but it’s a cheerful, nostalgic, and harmless Halloween comedy that knows exactly what it is. Whether you love or loathe Sandler’s antics, you can’t deny he’s still the king of turning simple, dumb fun into something strangely heartwarming.

Watch Hubie Halloween now on Netflix.