They’re making ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ with Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler in “Happy Gilmore” | Credit: Happy Gilmore Productions and Netflix

Yes, everyone over 40 will surely remember the first “Happy Gilmore” movie starring Adam Sandler, which came out in 1996. The film launched Sandler’s Hollywood career into overdrive, establishing him as a box-office star.

Good God, anyone with a sense of humor would enjoy watching the former hockey player turned golf pro, portrayed by a young Adam Sandler in “Happy Gilmore.” I still remember many of those scenes, and as I type this, they bring a smile to my face and a chuckle because they are embedded in my memory. This movie solidified Adam Sandler as the real deal and someone who would be around for a long time.

The timing of this could not be more perfect because Adam Sandler has a Netflix deal for all of his movies to be exclusively shown on the platform. None of the previous movies he has made for Netflix are direct sequels, remakes, or reboots of his most famous films, which made him a household name. Some may argue that “Billy Madison,” with its college frat-boy humor, helped Adam Sandler gain recognition and popularity, but that movie was more of a cult hit, a favorite among teens, adults, and anyone who first saw Adam Sandler on SNL. Overall, “Happy Gilmore” was more impactful in helping make Adam Sandler a household name worldwide. 

For those who have followed Adam Sandler since his years on SNL, you know what made him extremely popular from the ’90s onward. It was his brash, in-your-face, and temper-fueled comedic style, which are all undeniably funny. He belonged to a group of young comedians and stand-up comics who resonated with the youth. Adam Sandler did his skits, sketches, and comedic bits alongside the late, great Chris Farley, David Spade, Tim Meadows, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and others during his rise. This was an immensely talented group of alumni from SNL, and Adam Sandler became the most famous among them due to the movies he has made and released. While some of his recent offerings may not have been as great, his consistency is impressive, and he has tried to stay true to himself as a proven comedic actor who will keep making movies despite the outcome.

For me, a “Happy Gilmore” sequel was something I never imagined would happen. It feels like a lifetime since I first watched it on VHS and later on movie channels. The film always seemed like a one-off, with Happy Gilmore getting his happy ending. That was almost thirty years ago, so I wonder how the movie would resonate with audiences today, especially since many people are more politically correct now. However, let’s see! I think we are all getting tired of supposed comedies that fall flat, feel dull, and lack humor because almost everything is off-limits nowadays, and people are overly sensitive.

Maybe the cure for all of this is a “Happy Gilmore” sequel. Adam Sandler returning to his element – unfiltered, unedited, and unsaturated – could be a step toward restoring normalcy in comedy movies and bringing back the days when films could be funny again. Seriously, I think all of us level-headed people are tired of watching overly hyped comedy movies or films in the comedy genre, only to leave the cinema disappointed or, after watching them on a streaming service, immediately feel nothing. If a movie like “Happy Gilmore” were released now without any changes, it would be a monster hit but with a lot of risks of getting canceled.

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There are some scenes in “Happy Gilmore” that, if shown to a younger audience today, would surely make them laugh if they learned to relax, not take things too seriously, and appreciate humor in its purest form. I believe one major reason Adam Sandler has become an A-list star is that he created his iconic movies not in the present, but in the nineties to mid-2000s. The environment, society, and culture you are in are key factors in determining how much comedic freedom a person has. It’s like finding the available material you have to work with, and I think Adam Sandler is rediscovering that freedom once more; otherwise, he would not have received the “Go-Signal” to move forward past the pre-development phases for “Happy Gilmore 2,” which has been made a soon-to-be-released exclusive movie for Netflix.

For the record, I do not know of any other actor that has a Netflix deal for a quarter of a billion dollars. It only proves how much of a cornerstone of comedy Adam Sandler has become that the biggest streaming service would get him to create, release, and star in movies for them.

Adam Sandler is an original, and more than thirty years later, he is still relevant. We are celebrating him for that. By the way, Adam Sandler became the 24th comedian to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2023, which is the highest recognition that can be given to any comedian. It means one thing: Adam Sandler has become that important to comedy, and we need his humor now more than ever.

When I was young, I got to watch Adam Sandler movies such as “Billy Madison,” “Happy Gilmore,” “The Waterboy,” “Big Daddy” and many others. The guy was something else, and I have yet to see anyone like him to this day. Sure, many have been influenced by him, imitated his comedic style, and watched his movies growing up, but no one can surpass him. 

“Happy Gilmore 2” has been in pre-development for ages, with Adam Sandler planning to get started on it for the longest time. Regardless of how long it took, I am just grateful that it is officially happening.

“Happy Gilmore 2” will be directed by Kyle Newacheck, written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler, and will be exclusively shown on Netflix in 2025.

Tee it up because this might bring back the Adam Sandler of old!