Adam Sandler reacts to Jay Kelly Oscar snub

Adam Sandler has joked that his Oscars shutout this year has come down to one simple thing: other actors are better at schmoozing.

The 59-year-old actor addressed the snub with his trademark humor while accepting the Maltin Modern Master Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Thursday, Feb. 5, where he poked fun at the Academy and himself in equal measure.

“Thank you to the fortune teller I met in 1982 who told me I would win an Oscar for a movie called Jay Kelly,” Sandler quipped onstage. “Is it possible you didn’t say the full title and actually meant Jay Kelly 2?”

Turning his attention to this year’s nominees, Sandler added, “For real, thank you to everyone that got an Oscar nomination this year. Congrats. You earned it. I truly do think you’re better at acting than me. I also truly think you’re better at ass-kissing in the Academy.”

Sandler starred alongside George Clooney and Laura Dern in Netflix’s Jay Kelly, released in fall 2025. 

The film, directed by Noah Baumbach, cast Sandler as Ron Sukenick, the longtime manager of Clooney’s A-list movie star character. 

While Sandler earned nominations at both the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globe Awards, neither he nor the film received an Oscar nod.

Still, the actor made it clear there were no hard feelings. “I didn’t get an Oscar nomination. That’s all good, man,” Sandler said during an onstage conversation with Leonard Maltin. “Everyone who did get nominated, I’m like, well, they were f---ing great. So it made sense.”

He went on to praise the experience of making the film, calling it a career highlight. “I feel nothing but pride for that movie. I loved running around with Noah and Clooney and Laura and the whole team. You never forget those types. It was amazing.”

Sandler ended his acceptance speech with one final joke, teasing a dramatic comeback. “Next year, I’m going to whoop your ass,” he said. “I’ll show the deepest, darkest Sandman you’ve ever seen in Grown Ups 3.”

The 2026 Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will air live on Sunday, March 15.