Happy Gilmore is making waves once again! The highly anticipated sequel, “Happy Gilmore 2”, featuring the beloved Adam Sandler, has officially launched on Netflix, achieving impressive viewership numbers. Since its release on July 25, it has rapidly climbed to the top of the Netflix charts, ranking as the No. 1 film in the English-language category.
During its debut week from July 21 to 27, “Happy Gilmore 2” amassed an astounding 46.7 million views over the span of just three days. This staggering figure, calculated by dividing total hours watched by the film's runtime, marks the largest U.S. opening weekend ever for a Netflix movie. It also stands as the best opening for any of Adam Sandler's numerous films, which include hits like “Murder Mystery”, “Hubie Halloween”, and “The Week Of”.
The success of “Happy Gilmore 2” has sparked renewed interest in the classic original film, which is also available for streaming on Netflix. The beloved 1996 comedy, featuring Sandler as the hapless golfer, has climbed to No. 3 on the global top 10 list with an impressive 11.4 million views, marking its second consecutive week on the chart.
Originally released nearly 30 years ago, the first Happy Gilmore film grossed $40 million at the box office and solidified Sandler's status as a leading figure in comedy. The film centers around Happy, a hockey player with anger management issues who unexpectedly becomes a golf sensation. He enters a golf tournament hoping to win enough money to save his grandmother's house from foreclosure.
In “Happy Gilmore 2”, the story takes a darker turn as Happy retires from the sport and struggles with alcohol following a traumatic incident on the golf course. However, he finds motivation to return to the game when he needs to fund his daughter’s lavish ballet school in Paris. The sequel sees the return of fan-favorite character Shooter McGavin, played by Christopher McDonald, alongside new cast members such as Benny Safdie, Bad Bunny, and NFL star Travis Kelce. Notably, Sandler's real-life family members—Jackie, Sunny, and Sadie—also join the fun, and the film features a plethora of cameos from PGA champions like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, as well as personalities such as Sean Evans and Guy Fieri.
The original Happy Gilmore film holds a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a commendable score within Sandler's filmography, especially when compared to other films like “Billy Madison” (42%), “Big Daddy” (39%), and “Little Nicky” (22%). In Variety's review, film critic Owen Gleiberman praised “Happy Gilmore 2” as “a happy orgy of raucous fan-service nostalgia,” affirming the film's appeal to long-time fans.
In the broader Netflix landscape, “KPop Demon Hunters” has secured the second spot on the movies list, amassing 26.3 million views in its sixth week and becoming the most popular animated film on the platform. On the television side, “Untamed” continues its reign at the top of the English-language series chart, drawing 26.1 million views, an increase from its debut week. The gripping murder mystery, set against the backdrop of Yosemite National Park, has already been renewed for a second season.
Meanwhile, the much-anticipated third season of “Squid Game” remains the No. 1 non-English language show for the fifth consecutive week, adding another 4.6 million views to its impressive total. The ongoing success of these titles underscores Netflix's dominance in the streaming space and the enduring popularity of content that resonates with global audiences.
