Movies Explore: Just Go with It

Just Go with It — Cast Then vs Now

Search Description: Just Go with It cast then vs now: where Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker, Nicole Kidman and more are in 2026.

Summary: Released in 2011, Just Go with It paired Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston in a sunny, Hawaii-set rom-com built around one very bad lie that snowballs into a full-on fake family vacation. The movie took hits from critics but pulled in strong box office numbers and—like a lot of breezy studio comedies—kept finding new life on TV and streaming.

This “cast then vs now” update looks at where the main players (and the director) were around the film’s release and what they’re best known for today, as of January 10, 2026. Along the way, you’ll see how a “light” Sandler comedy can be a career waypoint for everyone from Oscar winners to child actors who later became streaming-era leads.

Movie basics

Title: Just Go with It
Year: 2011
Director: Dennis Dugan
Runtime: 117 minutes
Big idea: A plastic surgeon convinces his office manager to pose as his soon-to-be ex-wife after a dating lie spirals out of control.

The film is a loose remake of Cactus Flower, and it leans hard into the “vacation chaos” rom-com formula: escalating deception, a gorgeous resort backdrop, and a supporting cast built for punchlines and curveballs. It was also a commercial success worldwide (around $215M globally depending on the reporting source).¹³

Quick review

My rating: 3/5

Pros: Sandler/Aniston chemistry; genuinely fun kid performances; Nicole Kidman committing to absurd comedy; Hawaii scenery doing a lot of heavy lifting.
Cons: The premise requires major suspension of disbelief; some jokes feel dated; the plot runs long for a rom-com.
Who it’s for: Fans of easygoing, “put it on and relax” romantic comedies; Adam Sandler completists; anyone who likes ensemble vacation farces.

Critics were harsh (low critics score at Rotten Tomatoes; Metacritic score in the low 30s), but audiences were noticeably warmer—pretty typical for this corner of studio comedy.⁴⁵

Cast then vs now (2011 → 2026)

Adam Sandler (Danny Maccabee) — Then vs Now

Then (2011): By the time Just Go with It hit theaters, Adam Sandler was already a comedy institution and a proven box-office draw, especially in broad studio comedies. The movie also fit neatly into his long-running collaboration with director Dennis Dugan.¹

Now (2026): Sandler’s “modern era” is defined by streaming dominance and range: stand-up specials, huge Netflix comedies, and selective dramatic turns. Notably, he returned with a Netflix stand-up special, Adam Sandler: Love You (released August 27, 2024), directed by Josh Safdie.¹⁰¹¹ He also starred in Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, which Netflix promoted as “available on Netflix now” on December 5, 2025.¹² And in the pure “Sandler nostalgia engine” lane, Happy Gilmore 2 arrived on Netflix July 25, 2025 and quickly became a major streaming hit in the U.S. (reported at 46.7 million views in its first three days).¹³¹⁴

Jennifer Aniston (Katherine Murphy) — Then vs Now

Then (2011): Jennifer Aniston was firmly established as a rom-com star and sitcom icon, and Just Go with It leaned into her strengths: grounded reactions, sharp timing, and “adult in the room” energy opposite Sandler’s chaos.

Now (2026): Aniston’s current signature role is on Apple TV+’s The Morning Show, where she stars and executive produces. Apple announced (and later promoted) Season 4 as premiering globally on September 17, 2025, with weekly episodes through November 19, 2025.⁶⁷ Outside acting, she also has a consumer brand footprint: her haircare brand LolaVie launched in 2021 and is still actively promoted as of 2026 coverage.⁸

Brooklyn Decker (Palmer Dodge) — Then vs Now

Brooklyn Decker speaking at WonderCon 2012

Then (2011): Just Go with It was a major mainstream acting moment for Brooklyn Decker, who was transitioning from modeling into studio comedies. Her character Palmer is the “dream girl” catalyst that forces the lie into motion—and Decker plays her with an earnestness that keeps the movie’s premise from tipping into total cartoon logic.

Now (2026): Decker became widely recognizable to streaming audiences through Netflix’s long-running comedy Grace and Frankie, which lists 7 seasons and a 2022 endpoint on Netflix’s title page.¹⁵ More recently, she’s part of Prime Video’s teen music drama The Runarounds, which (per People’s coverage) is currently streaming on Prime Video and features her in the supporting cast.¹⁶¹⁷ A fun real-world tie-in: Decker is married to former tennis star Andy Roddick, who has built a notable second act in media with his tennis podcast and related partnerships.¹⁸¹⁹

Nicole Kidman (Devlin Adams) — Then vs Now

Then (2011): Nicole Kidman was already an Oscar-winning prestige mainstay, which is exactly why her presence here is so funny. She plays Devlin as a heightened, almost satirical “frenemy” figure—the kind of casting that tells you the movie knows it’s ridiculous and is inviting you to enjoy the ride.

Now (2026): Kidman remains one of the busiest A-list actors of the era, bouncing between auteur-driven films and high-profile streaming projects. Recent highlights include starring in the 2024 film Babygirl (as the lead) and the 2025 thriller Holland (also as the lead, with an Amazon Prime Video release listed for March 27, 2025).²⁰²¹

Nick Swardson (Eddie Simms) — Then vs Now

Nick Swardson at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2025

Then (2011): Swardson was (and still is) a key “Happy Madison universe” comedian: the oddball side character who can turn a normal scene into something aggressively weird. In this movie, Eddie is basically a chaos grenade with dialogue.

Now (2026): Swardson continues working heavily as a stand-up comic and touring performer. For example, the Houston Chronicle covered him bringing his “Toilet Head” tour to the Houston Improv in 2025, underscoring that live comedy remains a central lane for him.²²

Bailee Madison (Maggie Murphy) — Then vs Now

Then (2011): As Katherine’s daughter Maggie, Bailee Madison helps ground the movie’s “fake family” subplot. She’s also a big reason the Hawaii section works: the kids’ energy turns the premise from purely romantic deception into a full-family farce.

Now (2026): Madison has grown into a multi-hyphenate: acting plus music. Teen Vogue covered her music debut (“Kinda Fun”) and her work on Pretty Little Liars: Summer School (Season 2) in 2024 interviews.²³ Her management/publishing profile also notes the January 2024 release timing for “Kinda Fun” and describes her starring involvement in the Pretty Little Liars reboot ecosystem on Max.²⁴

Griffin Gluck (Michael Murphy) — Then vs Now

Then (2011): Gluck played Katherine’s son Michael (a key piece of the “we need kids for the lie” setup). He had a natural, deadpan delivery that helped the movie sell the family dynamic without constant winking at the audience.

Now (2026): Gluck continued acting into teen and adult roles, including Netflix-era visibility in projects like Locke & Key and later film/TV work listed in his biography and filmography. His Wikipedia entry notes roles including Cruel Summer (Season 2, 2023) and film credits extending into 2024.²⁵

Dave Matthews (Ian Maxtone-Jones) — Then vs Now

Then (2011): Matthews’ casting is a classic “surprise supporting player” move—he’s a musician first, but he fits the film’s heightened, slightly absurd tone.

Now (2026): Dave Matthews Band remains active, and the group’s touring has also been closely associated with environmental initiatives. REVERB’s tour partnership page highlights long-running sustainability work with the band and specific goals like tree-planting commitments tied to touring.²⁶

Director then vs now: Dennis Dugan

Then (2011): Dennis Dugan was one of Adam Sandler’s most frequent collaborators, directing Just Go with It and other major Happy Madison-era studio comedies. Wikipedia summarizes this period as part of Dugan’s long association with Sandler and big commercial comedy hits.²⁷

Now (2026): Dugan’s more recent work includes writing and directing Love, Weddings & Other Disasters (2020).²⁸ He also reconnected with the Sandler comedy world as an executive producer (and returning on-screen) for Happy Gilmore 2, according to a 2025 interview that discusses his involvement and return to the “Doug Thompson” role.²⁹

Just Go with It — Cast Then vs Now

Just Go with It — Cast Then vs Now

Movie basics

Quick review

Cast then vs now (2011 → 2026)

Adam Sandler (Danny Maccabee) — Then vs Now

Jennifer Aniston (Katherine Murphy) — Then vs Now

Brooklyn Decker (Palmer Dodge) — Then vs Now

Nicole Kidman (Devlin Adams) — Then vs Now

Nick Swardson (Eddie Simms) — Then vs Now

Bailee Madison (Maggie Murphy) — Then vs Now

Griffin Gluck (Michael Murphy) — Then vs Now

Dave Matthews (Ian Maxtone-Jones) — Then vs Now

Director then vs now: Dennis Dugan

Sources