Throughout the ’90s, Adam Sandler was typecast as the go-to guy in Hollywood for comedy, but Punch-Drunk Love proved that Saturday Night alum could also hold his own in the drama department. The 2002 movie is getting a Criterion Collection release on 4K Blu-ray, and if you’re looking to grab it for your collection, you can preorder it now for $35 (was $50) ahead of its February 4 release.
$35 (was $50) | February 4
While Punch-Drunk Love does have some moments of (absurd) comedy, it wasn’t the usual over-the-top content that Sandler had become famous for. The film stars Sandler as Barry Egan, a down-on-his-luck salesman, and his budding romance with his sister’s friend Lena Leonard (Emily Watson). The relationship gets complicated after Barry gets tangled up in an extortion plot by a greedy phone sex line operator (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). While it was a box office flop at the time of release, Punch-Drunk Love was a big hit with critics and is now regarded as one of Sandler’s most noteworthy performances.
Since this is a Criterion Collection, the 4K digital restoration has been supervised and approved by director Paul Thomas Anderson, and there are quite a few special features included:
- 4K digital restoration
- Dolby Atmos soundtrack
- Blossoms & Blood, a short feature directed by Anderson that also stars Adam Sandler and Emily Watson
- Interview with composer Jon Brion
- Behind-the-scenes footage of a recording session for the film’s soundtrack
- Conversation between curators Michael Connor and Lia Gangitano about the art of Jeremy Blake, which was used in the film
- Additional artwork by Blake
- 2002 Cannes Film Festival press conference
- NBC News interview with David Phillips, the “pudding guy”
- Twelve Scopitones
- Deleted scenes
- Mattress Man commercial
- Trailers
- An essay by filmmaker, author, and artist Miranda July
Sandler went on to turn in more celebrated dramatic roles, including 2019’s Uncut Gems, where he stars as a fast-talking gambler. You can grab the Uncut Gems Criterion Collection Edition 4K Blu-ray for just $26.59 (was $50). This version includes special features, including deleted scenes, documentaries, interviews, audition tapes, and more.
