Adam Sandler’s $41M Comedy Comeback Is Blowing Up on Netflix Worldwide as Sequel Arrived on the Platform

Happy Gilmore is climbing the Netflix global charts and grabbing attention again, especially with its sequel about to drop. Right now, it’s sitting at number six on Netflix’s worldwide top ten movies list.

In the U.S., it also holds the sixth spot. But it’s not just the U.S., the movie is in the top ten in nine other countries too, like Canada, Ireland, and Sweden. Interestingly, among all the top movies, only one that ranks higher isn’t a recent Netflix original.

The film stars Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore, a former hockey player who struggles with anger but finds a surprising new career in golf.

It’s a classic underdog story with Sandler’s unique comedic style. The movie’s success is clear, its audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is 85%, and it earned $41.4 million at the box office.

What’s pushing Happy Gilmore back into the spotlight? The release of Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix this Friday. Fans didn’t expect a sequel after nearly 30 years, but excitement is building as Sandler brought back one of his most beloved characters.

Happy Gilmore 2 is a 2025 sports comedy directed by Kyle Newacheck and written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler. It’s a follow-up to the original 1996 movie. Sandler returns, along with Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Ben Stiller, and Dennis Dugan. New faces in the sequel include Benny Safdie and Bad Bunny.

Filming took place in New Jersey from September to December 2024. The sequel launched on Netflix on July 25, 2025, and early reviews from critics have been positive.

The story in Happy Gilmore 2 picks up after the original’s ending. After winning his first Tour Championship back in 1996, Happy went on to win five more golf championships. He also settled down with his wife, Virginia Venit, and they had five children.

But tragedy strikes in 2014 when one of Happy’s golf drives accidentally hits Virginia, killing her. Devastated and full of guilt, Happy quits golf and falls into alcoholism. Things get worse when he loses the house he inherited from his grandmother after a fight with a repossession worker who mistakenly thought Happy was trying to steal a car.

The return of Happy Gilmore on Netflix and the release of the sequel have brought this funny, heartfelt sports story back into the limelight, showing that sometimes, a character fans love can come roaring back after decades.

This information comes from Netflix rankings.

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