Happy Gilmore 2’s release strategy might not work in the film’s favor

Happy Gilmore 2 is a forthcoming sports comedy film and a sequel to the 1996 flick. This Kyle Newacheck-directed film is penned by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy. It will be released on Netflix on July 25, 2025. Here's the official synopsis:

Revisit Happy Gilmore's golf career after his win in the Tour Championship

Back in 2014, Sandler signed a deal with Netflix that has been extended over the years. Unlike the first film, which came out in 1996, the sequel will be released directly on the streaming platform and not in the theatres, which might not work in the film's favor.

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Releasing on Netflix could hurt the film

Happy Gilmore 2 is coming out on Netflix, making it one of the most sought-after streaming releases this year. The first film in the franchise was released in 1996, when Adam Sandler was let go from his job at NBC. It was released theatrically and became a commercial success.

The sequel is being released on a streamer, making it one of the films in recent memory that robs the viewers of a theatrical experience. Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and Greta Gerwig's Narnia are also dropping on the streamer, but they might have done well on the big screen.

Happy Gilmore 2 might get good viewership on Netflix because of Sandler and nostalgia for the first film. But it might not get the euphoria that a theatrical release would get. For example, Ryan Coogler's action horror film Sinners came out of nowhere and became the buzz of the town. People enjoyed the film and kept talking about it. This did not happen with Eddie Murphy's Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which dropped on Netflix. The film was a part of a popular franchise and met with favorable reviews. But it did not feel the same.

Happy Gilmore 2 might drop and disappear on the streaming platform amid the constant stream of new content being released weekly.

The film is produced by Adam Sandler, Robert Simonds, Tim Herlihy, and Jack Giarraputo. It's a sequel to the 1996 title about a failed hockey player who discovers his talent for golf while trying to prevent the foreclosure of his ancestral house.

The cast members of the sequel include,

Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore
Dennis Dugan as Doug Thompson
Julie Bowen as Virginia Venit
Ben Stiller as Hal L
Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin
Kevin Nealon as Gary Potter
Sunny Sandler as Vienna Gilmore
Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio as the caddy of Happy
Kym Whitley as Bessie

In the sequel, Gilmore returns to the sport three decades after retiring and wins his first tour. He does this to pay for his daughter's ballet school fees.

Back in August 2024, Sandler appeared on The Tonight Show and said:

“It’s good. We worked hard on the script. We didn’t want to let anybody down. People have been asking me for a long time, ‘Do Happy Gilmore 2.’ And I was always like ‘Nah, I’ll only let you down.’ … We’re really excited about it … We wrote our asses off. We’re continuing to try to make it a movie that I think you’ll like.”

Are you excited about the film? Sound off in the comments section.