The 2015 film “Pixels,” starring Adam Sandler, was a certified sci-fi failure upon release. Critics slammed the video game-inspired comedy for Sandler’s silly moments and being “casually sexist” (via Variety). The film sat at a devastating 12% rating on Rotten Tomatoes after its opening weekend, and it only managed to reach 18% over time. However, after 11 years, this box office bomb miraculously finds a new lease of life in the world of streaming.
“Pixels” is currently streaming on the free service Tubi. As of this writing, “Pixels” actually ranks pretty high among Tubi’s “most popular” titles. It’s worth noting that Tubi isn’t the most-watched free TV streaming service, but the platform reached 110 million monthly active users as of August 2026. This can only mean that a surprising number of people have watched or rewatched this decade-old Sandler dud. It’s clear that “Pixels” may deserve a place on the list of horrible sci-fi movies that are absolutely awesome to watch.
A fun video game comedy to watch occasionally
On paper, the principle of “Pixels” should greatly appeal to fans of retro video games. A race of sci-fi aliens intercept a series of video feeds of classic arcade games, including “Pac-Man” and “Space Invaders,” and interpret them as a declaration of war from Earth. The aliens launch an assault using these video games as a template for their attack. A group of human characters – played by Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan and other well-known names – must draw on their childhood knowledge of arcade games to overcome the threat.
Many of the games referenced in “Pixels” have a timeless appeal and true historical value for gamers, which might explain why many viewers still consider it a charming film today. It’s hard to call this a serious homage, and review scores suggest it was never worth paying to see, but “Pixels” can certainly be enjoyable if you watch it casually on a free service like Tubi.
When Peter Sobczynski reviewed “Pixels” for Roger Ebert’s website, he summed up his scathing thoughts by saying, “If you’re old enough to be nostalgic for playing ‘Donkey Kong’ in an arcade, you’re probably too old for an Adam Sandler movie.” That said, watching bad movies can be extremely fun in its own right. If you’re in the mood for something more universally acclaimed, one of the greatest sci-fi shows of all time can also be streamed for free on Tubi.
