Adam Sandler’s return to the golf course has struck gold. “Happy Gilmore 2,” the long-awaited sequel to the 1996 comedy classic, didn’t just make the cut—it obliterated Netflix’s opening weekend records with a performance that would make even the most seasoned pro golfer jealous.
Record-Breaking Numbers That Actually Matter
The sequel launched on July 25 and immediately drove straight to the top of Netflix’s English-language movie rankings. In just three days (July 25-27), “Happy Gilmore 2” generated a staggering 46.7 million views—a metric Netflix calculates by dividing total hours watched by the film’s runtime.
What this means: This isn’t just impressive—it’s historic. The film achieved the biggest U.S. opening weekend of any Netflix original movie ever, while also setting a new personal best for Sandler, who has made nearly a dozen films for the streaming giant. Think of it as Sandler’s hole-in-one moment in a career already packed with birdies.
The Original Gets a Boost Too
The sequel’s success created a ripple effect that lifted the original “Happy Gilmore” back into the spotlight. The 1996 film, also available on Netflix, climbed to No. 3 on the global top 10 with 11.4 million views, marking its second consecutive week on the charts.
What this means: Netflix subscribers are experiencing serious nostalgia, revisiting the film that introduced us to hockey-player-turned-golf-phenomenon Happy Gilmore nearly three decades ago. It’s proof that good comedy ages like fine wine—or in Sandler’s case, like a perfectly aged sports drink.
From Box Office to Streaming Supremacy
The original “Happy Gilmore” earned $40 million at the box office in 1996, helping establish Sandler as a comedy heavyweight. The film followed Happy’s journey from anger-prone hockey wannabe to unlikely golf star, all to save his grandmother’s house from foreclosure.
The sequel picks up decades later with Happy retired and struggling with alcoholism after a traumatic incident on the green. This time, he’s motivated to return to golf to fund his daughter’s expensive ballet education in Paris—because apparently, even fictional characters are dealing with inflation.
Star-Studded Cast Brings Fresh Energy
Christopher McDonald returns as the deliciously villainous Shooter McGavin, joined by an eclectic mix of newcomers including Benny Safdie, Bad Bunny, and NFL star Travis Kelce. Sandler even brought his real-life family into the mix, with wife Jackie and daughters Sunny and Sadie appearing on screen.
The cameo parade includes PGA champions Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans, and Food Network’s Guy Fieri—creating a perfect storm of sports, entertainment, and internet culture.
Critical Reception Exceeds Expectations
“Happy Gilmore 2” earned a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes—practically a standing ovation in Sandler’s filmography. For context, other Sandler classics like “Billy Madison” sits at 42%, “Big Daddy” at 39%, and “Little Nicky” at a painful 22%.
Variety’s chief film critic Owen Gleiberman described the sequel as “a happy orgy of raucous fan-service nostalgia”—which, let’s be honest, is exactly what fans were hoping for.
What this means: The film successfully balances nostalgia with fresh content, delivering the familiar Sandler humor that made the original a cult classic while adding enough new elements to justify its existence.
Netflix’s Broader Success Story
“Happy Gilmore 2” wasn’t the only winner on Netflix’s charts. “KPop Demon Hunters” claimed second place with 26.3 million views in its sixth week, now holding the title of most popular Netflix animated film of all time.
On the TV side, “Untamed,” a murder mystery set in Yosemite National Park starring Eric Bana, maintained its top spot for the second consecutive week with 26.1 million views. The show’s success earned it a second season renewal.
Meanwhile, “Squid Game” season three continued its international dominance, holding the No. 1 non-English language spot for five straight weeks with an additional 4.6 million views.
What this means: Netflix’s diverse content strategy is paying dividends across multiple genres and languages, proving that audiences are hungry for everything from nostalgic comedies to international thrillers.
The success of “Happy Gilmore 2” demonstrates that sometimes the best way forward is to take a swing at the past—and Adam Sandler just scored a hole-in-one.
