Adam Sandler's New Netflix Movie Is Giving People Complicated Feelings... About Nepotism

You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah is a family affair featuring the Uncut Gems star's real-life daughters and wife.
You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah stars Adam's daughters (right)
You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah stars Adam's daughters (right)
Netflix

Within just days of being released, Adam Sandler’s new movie has fast become his most critically-acclaimed yet – which is cause for celebration for the whole Sandler family.

Netflix’s You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah sees the Uncut Gems actor playing Danny Friedman, whose teenage daughter is preparing for her extra special celebration.

Unfortunately, a fallout with her best friend derails the planning process and as her parents (Adam’s on-screen wife is played by his Uncut Gems co-star Idina Menzel) do their best to help, things go from bad to worse.

As the credits roll on the coming-of-age comedy, fans are delivered a surprise – several members of Adam’s real-life family have prominent roles within the film.

His on-screen kids – Stacey, who is having the titular bat mitzvah, and her older sister Ronnie – are played by his real children, 14-year-old Sunny and Sadie, 17. Adam’s wife Jackie puts in an appearance too, as the mother of Stacey’s BFF-turned-enemy Lydia.

The decision for Adam – who also produced the film – to cast his loved ones is an interesting one, and comes at a time when nepotism isn’t exactly something being celebrated in Hollywood.

However, many viewers have shared the opinion that Adam’s daughters are so good in the film that they’re willing to overlook the nepotism on this occasion.

I was skeptical about You’re Not Invited to my Bat Mitzvah because of the nepotism but Adam Sandler daughters did a great job

— Mazzy G. (@Bunny27399260) August 27, 2023

It's how Adam Sandler put his entire family on with this movie. Love it.
And I'm not mad at the level of nepotism cos the movie is actually pretty good.

— Gigi (@okafor_angela) August 26, 2023

just watched the adam sandler bat mitzvah movie and now im ok with nepotism

— kaitlyn (@untilyoufaceit) August 28, 2023

Adam Sandler does nepotism right I’m sorry https://t.co/ZDxtS7Yxnm

— Jill (@jilllstweets) August 29, 2023

that new adam sandler movie was great, never disappoints. his daughters are going to be stars.

— V☀︎ (@localbictor) August 29, 2023

Adam Sandler’s daughters are such stars in that new Netflix movie 🥹🥹🥹 Sunny and Sadie, maybe nepotism is okay

— shay (@aliasshay) August 28, 2023

adam sandler’s girls are nepotism done RIGHT…. such good actors i love themmm

— 🦭juvi ⛈ ★ (@sealuv3r) August 29, 2023

watching this now and 🥹it’s actually so beautiful and heartwarming, Adam Sandler is truly the man and both his daughters are STARS but his younger one was made for this fr fr https://t.co/5C0hxCxCss

— Bryan (@bryrosaa) August 30, 2023

You’re So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah has shot to number one on Netflix, and over on the film review site Rotten Tomatoes, it’s officially Adam’s most well-reviewed movie ever with a score of 96%.

The Guardian’s review reads: “I’m as keen as the next person to roll my eyes at so-called nepo babies, but You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah [...] makes the case for some upsides to maintaining the family business.”

“Sandler, never one to be ruffled by nepo-baby talk, has been putting his daughters in Happy Madison productions since they were toddlers, but this is their first time in the forefront, and they’re not half-bad,” writes Vulture’s critic.

Rolling Stone’s critic argues: “Cry nepotism all you want, but the entire brood acquits itself quite well, and they seem to be having an infectiously good time together.”

Meanwhile, on the subject of nepotism, a piece in The Independent argues: “Seeing real family members interact on screen is its own little thrill. It lends the film a lived-in authenticity and makes the otherwise standard-issue family unit feel fleshed out and singular.”

You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah is available to stream on Netflix now.

Close

What's Hot