10 Adam Sandler Movies That Still Need A Sequel After Happy Gilmore 2

Happy Gilmore 2 has finally arrived after 29 years, and now that the long-awaited sequel has hit streaming, these ten other Adam Sandler movies should finally get follow-ups. Sandler has starred in some of the most iconic comedy movies of all time, which is why it is shocking that so many of them have gone without sequels.

1996’s Happy Gilmore is one of Sandler’s most beloved movies, to the point where it partially inspired the name of his production company, Happy Madison Productions. This is why it was so exciting when the announcement came that Happy Gilmore 2 would be happening, with Sandler returning to the green for the Netflix legacy sequel.

Happy Gilmore 2 has been a mᴀssive success for Netflix, breaking all kinds of records and dominating the streaming service. Thus, it only makes sense for Netflix to look into developing more sequels to Sandler’s films, and these ten are the perfect candidates.

10

Grown Ups 2

The cast of Grown Ups goes down a water slide

Of all the Sandler movies that deserve follow-ups, Grown Ups 2 is the most obvious pick. The original Grown Ups was a mᴀssive hit upon its release, playing like the Avengers of Happy Madison Productions. The success of the first film led to a sequel being quickly developed, with it releasing only three years after its predecessor.

However, despite the sequel making $247 million, Grown Ups 3 still hasn’t happened. Fans of Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, and the rest of the gang have been clamoring for another entry in the franchise. They don’t seem to be the most expensive or complex productions, and based on the fact that Grown Ups 3 seems like a surefire success, it is shocking that it hasn’t happened yet.

Luckily, mumblings about a third film are starting to occur. James responded to a question about Grown Ups 3‘s development by saying, “I think it’s happening—something’s happening. I can say that.” This is obviously a great sign for the film, proving that things are moving in the right direction and that fans should “keep hope alive.”

9

Billy Madison

Adam Sandler as Billy Madison yelling at Ernie

Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison are often lumped together as Sandler’s mid-1990s classics, and now that the former has a sequel, it is time for the latter to get the same treatment. Since its 1995 release, Sandler has not returned to the role of Billy Madison, despite there being an obvious story for a sequel.

In the original film, Billy must pᴀss grades 1 through 12, which he successfully does. At the end of the movie, he expresses interest in going to college, which is what the sequel could be about. Billy Madison 2 could see an older Billy realize that he never fulfilled that dream of becoming a teacher, requiring him to blast through college in order to get a degree.

8

The Waterboy

Henry Winkler and Adam Sandler standing together alongside a football team in The Waterboy

1998’s The Waterboy is another fantastic pick for a Sandler sequel, continuing the actor’s sports legacy sequel trend. The film follows Sandler as a waterboy who is fired from his job, leading to him getting hired by a rival team. There, the coach realizes his potential, making him a linebacker.

The film ends with Sandler’s Bobby Boucher Jr. getting the opportunity to go to the NFL, setting up a clear sequel. The Waterboy 2 could see him finally go pro, continuing his football career years after his time with the Mud Dogs. While it may be hard to explain the time jump, Happy Gilmore 2 proved that Sandler fans will turn out for his sports legacy sequels.

7

The Wedding Singer

Adam Sandler as Robbie Hart sings into a microphone in The Wedding Singer.

The other Sandler 1990s classic that still hasn’t gotten a sequel is 1998’s The Wedding Singer. Considered to be one of Sandler’s best comedy movies, the film follows Robbie Hart, a wedding singer who is left at the altar. After falling in love with a bride whose wedding he is planning, Robbie must figure out how to make her fall in love with him before the big day.

The Wedding Singer‘s low $18 million budget means that a sequel could be made pretty cheaply, and its box office of $123.3 million suggests it could be a big success. While it may be hard to devise a sequel story since Robbie and Julia admit their love for each other at the end, the original’s hint of a record label could be what gets The Wedding Singer 2 started.

6

Leo

Adam Sandler's Leo winking in Netflix's Leo

Although it may seem like a far cry from the rest of the Sandler comedies on this list, 2023’s Leo is ripe for a sequel. The animated film sees Sandler voice the тιтular tuatara, who realizes that he is only one year away from the species’ average life expectancy. Since he has never accomplished his dream of going to the Everglades, Leo decides to escape.

At the end of the film, Leo learns that he could live to be over 100, easing his fears of his own mortality. On top of that, Leo is given to a new class of kindergartners, potentially setting up a sequel story. The H๏τel Transylvania movies have proven that Sandler’s animated sequels can be huge, and Leo 2 could continue this trend.

5

Little Nicky

adam sandler as nicky in little nicky

One of Sandler’s oddest comedies is also one with sequel potential: Little Nicky. The film follows Sandler as Nicky, a demon whose father is Satan and whose mother is an angel. When Satan decides not to turn Hell over to his sons, Nicky’s two older brothers devise a scheme to take over New York. The meek Nicky is then sent by Satan to stop his older brothers.

At the end of the film, Nicky and his wife Valerie have a half-demon son named Zachariah. The fantastical story of Little Nicky means that there is lots of room for a sequel, and this new character could be the perfect story for a sequel. In the 25 years since the original film, Zachariah could have grown up, leading to another demonic conflict with Little Nicky.

4

You Don’t Mess With The Zohan

Zohan doing a split in You Don't Mess With The Zohan

You Don’t Mess with the Zohan is a spy action comedy starring Sandler as Zohan, an Israeli commando who dreams of moving to America and becoming a hair stylist. While he eventually does make it to New York City, Zohan’s ties to the higher-ups in the Israeli and Palestinian conflict make life difficult, dragging him back into the world of counter-terrorism.

The incredibly controversial nature of You Don’t Mess with the Zohan‘s subject matter may make a sequel unlikely. If one does get made, however, there are plenty of options for further spy stories.

The original film had a whopping budget of $90 million, proving that Sandler and the gang had a lot of confidence in the movie. This is why it’s so shocking that a sequel hasn’t happened, as the original made $204.3 million.

3

Bedtime Stories

Adam Sandler looking up at the sky as tiny bouncy balls fall in Bedtime Stories

Sandler collaborated with Disney to make the family comedy Bedtime Stories, and despite the film being a staple for an entire generation, a sequel still hasn’t happened. It tells the story of Sandler’s Skeeter Bronson, a handyman who tells his niece and nephew bedtime stories. However, he begins to suspect that these stories are coming to life, causing him to try and use this power to his advantage.

It is never fully confirmed if Skeeter’s stories are actually coming to life, as each instance seems to have a natural explanation. However, the premise of the film is incredibly strong, and there would be a lot more that could be explored in Bedtime Stories 2.

2

Click

Click poster featuring Adam Sandler holding the remote

2006’s Click is one of Sandler’s most popular movies from the 2000s. It follows a man named Michael Newman who buys a universal remote that allows him to control reality. Michael can use all kinds of functions, but he finds fast-forwarding to be the most useful, although things eventually go horribly wrong.

At the end of Click, it is revealed that the events of the film are a dream, making a sequel a bit difficult to pull off. However, the writers of Click 2 could undoubtedly find a way to make another universal remote story work, as the fairy tale vibe can make up for any slight logical inconsistencies.

1

Pixels

Adam Sandler, Josh Gad, and Michelle Monaghan hug each other in terror in Pixels

Finally, Sandler’s 2015 film Pixels is another one that is perfect for a sequel. The original movie sees Sandler’s video game expert lead a team against an alien invasion that has taken the form of popular arcade game characters. The film features icons like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Centipede, but the franchise still has so much untapped potential.

Decades of video games still haven’t been explored in the Pixels franchise, and another alien invasion could expand on this concept even further. The premise of Pixels has broad appeal, and it is a comparatively recent Sandler movie. If Happy Gilmore 2 can be a big success, then so can Pixels.

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