Almost 30 years after Adam Sandler first swung his hockey stick on the golf course, the legend that is Happy Gilmore makes his return. Happy Gilmore 2 made its Netflix debut on July 25, 2025, stirring up assorted reactions from longtime fans. Some were thrilled, while some were skeptical. After all, they say lightning never strikes the same place twice. The producers of Happy Gilmore sure hit the mark with the first movie, leaving fans wondering, would Happy Gilmore 2 be as timeless and hilarious? Or a “swing and a miss” and an inadequate attempt to live up to the legend?
The original Happy Gilmore follows a hot-headed hockey player who decides to pick up a golf club and give it a swing one day. He soon realizes that he has an unexpected talent for golf and is encouraged to play to earn money. With his unconventional swing and feral behavior, he quickly becomes a fan favorite. In the end, he wins the tour and can pay off his grandma’s house. In Happy Gilmore 2, we catch up with Happy decades later, older (although maybe not wiser). Happy is roped back into the golf world on account of unforeseen circumstances. New generations of players are introduced, most of them likeable and friendly, some not so much. Adam Sandler reprises his role as Happy Gilmore with the same chaotic charm, but many fans miss the energy of the original supporting cast. While actors like Christopher McDonald and John Daly repeated their roles as Shooter McGavin and John Daly, there were also many new faces that popped up in Happy Gilmore 2. Celebrities such as Post Malone, Eminem, Travis Kelce, Kid Cudi, Bad Bunny, and Marcello Hernandez were featured in the movie (International Movie Database). Many pro golfers, such as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka, also made their silver screen debut (International Movie Database).
The movie features countless jokes referring back to iconic scenes and quotes from the original film. Many of the jokes were a hit for some fans, but to others, they felt recycled. Movie critic, Maxwell Rabb with the Chicago Reader said, “We get some light chuckles and one-off jokes, but the story, with bones to be genuinely gripping, flatlines thanks to an onslaught of shoddy gags and cameos.” On social media platforms such as Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter), the hashtag “#HappyGilmore2” was trending for several days following the release of the sequel. Many fans criticized the film for leaning too heavily on nostalgia and not bringing anything new to the table.
While Happy Gilmore 2 may not have been a “hole in one” for some, for others, it was a wave of nostalgia and an enjoyable sequel to a cult classic. The film still delivers what it promised, a rowdy return to Adam Sandler’s (arguably) most iconic character. With a few solid doses of laughter, many memorable cameos, and a bit of heart, it shows through the movie that the filmmakers shot to honor the original movie in a new era. Whether you are watching the original for the millionth time or checking out the sequel for the first time, Happy Gilmore 2 teaches us that it is not about having the perfect swing; it is about showing up to play.
