Netflix’s Happy Gilmore 2 has been another major hit for Adam Sandler, continuing the comedian’s dominance on the streaming service after over a decade. Sandler is one of the most popular comedic actors of all time, and thanks to his star status, Netflix has become an outlet for him to do whatever he wants — and he keeps succeeding.

From the late 1990s through the early 2010s, Sandler was a major theatrical force, releasing comedy hits like Billy Madison, Click, Grown Ups, and Pixels. In 2014, however, he made a major pivot to streaming, with Netflix announcing a four-movie deal with Sandler and Happy Madison Productions.

Sandler kicked off his Netflix deal with the release of 2015’s The Ridiculious 6, which had the most viewing time in its first 30 days than any other Netflix film as of its release. This success was followed by 2016’s The Do-Over and 2017’s Sandy Wexler and The Meyerowitz Stories. After these continuing Netflix successes, Sandler never looked back.

Happy Gilmore 2’s Record-Breaking Viewership Continues Adam Sandler’s Netflix Dominance

After more than a decade of working with Netflix, Sandler made a major step in his Netflix partnership by releasing the sequel to a beloved theatrical classic. Happy Gilmore 2 was very highly anticipated, and now that the film has hit streaming, it is clear that there is still a mᴀssive fanbase surrounding the golf movie franchise.

Happy Gilmore 2 has already set multiple streaming records just days after its release on July 25. It raked in 46.7 million views in its first three days, which is the highest for any of Sandler’s Netflix movies. Beyond just Sandler’s movies, the sequel also had the largest opening weekend for any Netflix movie ever in the United States.

The release of the sequel also boosted the popularity of the original Happy Gilmore, which was on Netflix until July 31. It got another 11.4 million views, pushing it to the third spot in Netflix’s Top 10 movies list.

This data proves that the film was a mᴀssive success for Netflix, with Sandler continuing his dominance over the streaming platform. The actor and Netflix are a match made in heaven, since he produces movies perfect for casual at-home viewing. Since Sandler himself is the brand rather than his IP, Netflix can release original movies starring the actor and still expect mᴀssive viewership.

When Netflix wants to dip into old franchises like Happy Gilmore, however, Sandler can do that too. He is the CEO of his production company, Happy Madison Productions, which owns many of the IPs that have made him famous. Sandler calls the sH๏τs when it comes to licensing out his franchises to companies like Netflix, giving the streaming service a lot of sway.

With Sandler, Netflix gets a marketable brand. The streaming aspect also means Sandler can release his movies without having to compete at the theatrical box office, a prospect that’s only gotten harder for traditional comedies over the years. Their continued partnership is a win-win for both parties, and with the immense success of Happy Gilmore 2, it proves that their relationship has only gotten better.

Adam Sandler Will Be The King Of Netflix For The Foreseeable Future

After Happy Gilmore 2‘s incredible debut, it looks like Sandler will continue his dominance over Netflix for the foreseeable future. After his first Netflix deal, the streaming service made another deal for four more movies in 2020. In 2024, Sandler made another deal for four more movies, with him making $275 million from this latest agreement (via The Economic Times).

Happy Gilmore 2 is the first product of this deal, meaning that Sandler has at least three more movies to make for the streaming service. It hasn’t yet been announced what these films are, but after the success of the 2025 sequel, it could be a mix of original films and sequels to other Sandler classics.

Sandler has proven that he is willing to work with Netflix even outside his deal. Happy Madison Productions didn’t produce films like Uncut Gems, which Netflix distributed internationally, or the upcoming 2025 film Jay Kelly. It is likely that Sandler will continue to sign onto other Netflix movies that have nothing to do with his $275 million contract, potentially boosting other projects through his name recognition.

The potential for more sequels to classic Sandler movies is one of the most exciting products of Happy Gilmore 2. There has been a lot of talk about a potential Grown Ups 3, and if one of Sandler’s most popular franchises returns on Netflix, it will undoubtedly be a mᴀssive hit. However, his vast filmography contains plenty of iconic projects that are ripe for sequels.

As of now, neither Netflix nor Sandler have any reason to terminate their partnership. Both parties seem interested in continuing their relationships, and audiences are definitely interested in supporting their films. Happy Gilmore 2 continues to prove how strong this collaboration is, and it’ll be interesting to see if more deals are struck another decade into the future.