Adam Sandler’s $41M Comedy Makes a Huge Splash on Netflix Worldwide Due to Sequel Release

Happy Gilmore is making waves on Netflix right now, sitting at number six in the global top ten movies. It’s also number six in the U.S., and it’s doing well in nine other countries like Canada, Ireland, and Sweden. Interestingly, almost every movie above it on the list is a recent Netflix original, except for one.

The movie stars Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore, a former hockey player with some serious anger issues who ends up finding success on the golf course. It’s a classic underdog sports story, told with Sandler’s unique style. The movie’s popularity is backed up by an 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and a solid $41.4 million at the box office.

The big reason Happy Gilmore is blowing up on Netflix right now is because the sequel, Happy Gilmore 2, dropped on the platform this Friday. Not many expected a follow-up after almost three decades, but fans are excited to see Sandler return as this beloved character.

Happy Gilmore 2 is a sports comedy that came out in 2025. It was directed by Kyle Newacheck and written by Tim Herlihy along with Adam Sandler. The original cast members, including Sandler, Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Ben Stiller, and Dennis Dugan, all came back for the sequel. Plus, new faces like Benny Safdie and Bad Bunny joined the film.

They filmed Happy Gilmore 2 in New Jersey from September to December 2024. The movie hit Netflix on July 25, 2025, and got good reviews from critics.

The story picks up years after the original. After winning his first Tour Championship in 1996, Happy went on to win five more titles.

He also has five kids with his wife Virginia Venit. But in a tragic turn, Happy accidentally kills Virginia in 2014 when one of his golf drives hits her. Feeling crushed by guilt, he quits golf, falls into alcoholism, and loses everything, including a house inherited from his grandmother, after a repossession worker sues him following a mix-up that led to a brawl.

This fresh take on Happy Gilmore’s life has people talking, and with the sequel now streaming, it looks like Sandler’s comedy comeback is just getting started.

The information regarding viewership was provided by Netflix Tudum.

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