Three decades after taking his first swing, Happy Gilmore has landed the shot of his career. Adam Sandler’s much-hyped sequel, Happy Gilmore 2, teed off on Netflix with a record-breaking 46.7 million views in just three days—making it the biggest U.S. film debut in the streamer’s history.
The sequel, released on July 25, didn’t just revive nostalgia—it rewrote the playbook on what a comedy sequel can achieve on streaming. And in true Sandler fashion, it was loud, absurd, self-aware, and stacked with cameos ranging from PGA Tour elites to pop culture icons.
Long Wait, Big Swing, Massive Payoff
The numbers weren’t just impressive—they were unprecedented.
Sandler’s film scored 46.7 million views between July 21 and 27, using Netflix’s metric that divides total hours watched by runtime. No other U.S. Netflix film has come close to that opening-weekend figure.
It also marked the highest launch of any Sandler movie to date on the platform. That includes his Netflix hits like Murder Mystery, Hubie Halloween, and The Week Of. While those performed well, Happy Gilmore 2 drove straight into the platform’s record books.
Even the original Happy Gilmore saw a renaissance. Despite being nearly 30 years old, it landed at No. 3 on the global top 10 list with 11.4 million views—its second week in the rankings.
From Hockey Dreams to Ballet Tuition
Plot-wise, Happy Gilmore 2 sticks with Sandler’s signature chaos-with-heart formula.
Happy, now retired from golf, is spiraling after a traumatic on-course incident. He’s drinking too much and caring too little. That is, until his daughter’s Paris ballet school tuition threatens to drain what’s left of his sanity—and his savings.
There’s a lot going on: a washed-up Gilmore, a new reason to compete, and yes, Shooter McGavin is back. Christopher McDonald reprises the villainous golfer with perfect camp. The energy is ridiculous, but it works.
The cast also includes:
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Benny Safdie, who adds a layer of indie grit
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Bad Bunny, because, well, why not
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Travis Kelce, offering linebacker-sized laughs
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Sandler’s real-life family, Jackie, Sunny, and Sadie
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Cameos galore, from Rory McIlroy to Guy Fieri
It’s part golf parody, part emotional redemption arc, and all fan service—something Netflix viewers clearly couldn’t get enough of.
A Fan-Fueled Nostalgia Frenzy
Critics are often skeptical of Sandler sequels. But this time? Even they had to give a nod.
Happy Gilmore 2 sits at a healthy 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. Compared to Sandler’s older works (Billy Madison at 42%, Big Daddy at 39%, Little Nicky at 22%), that’s practically a five-star review.
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman called the film “a happy orgy of raucous fan-service nostalgia.” And really, that sums it up. The movie knows what it is, leans in, and doesn’t apologize.
Between the flashbacks, callbacks, and full-circle moments, the movie managed to balance chaos with sentimentality. For long-time Sandler fans, it hit the sweet spot.
Netflix’s Movie Charts Get a Shake-Up
The impact wasn’t isolated.
Happy Gilmore 2 led the English-language movie rankings, outpacing all competition by a wide margin. Right behind it was KPop Demon Hunters, a sixth-week holdover that still brought in 26.3 million views, making it Netflix’s most popular animated movie ever.
Here’s a snapshot of this week’s top performers:
| Title | Views (Week of July 21–27) |
|---|---|
| Happy Gilmore 2 | 46.7 million |
| KPop Demon Hunters | 26.3 million |
| Original Happy Gilmore | 11.4 million |
On the TV side, Untamed continued its reign atop the English series chart with 26.1 million views—up from its previous week. The Yosemite-based thriller starring Eric Bana was just renewed for Season 2.
Internationally, Squid Game Season 3 refused to slow down, maintaining its top spot for non-English programming for the fifth week with 4.6 million more views.
What’s Driving the Sandler Resurgence?
It’s not just luck—it’s a combination of factors clicking at once.
The timing helped. A summer release during a lull in tentpole theatrical comedies gave it more visibility.
Sandler’s consistent presence on Netflix also built anticipation. After nearly a dozen movies on the platform, audiences knew what to expect—and this time, they got the familiar Gilmore character with just enough evolution to make it feel fresh.
The nostalgia economy is booming, and Happy Gilmore 2 cashed in without feeling like a cash grab. That’s a delicate balance in 2025.
