Happy Gilmore 2 (2025) is directed by Kyle Newacheck, and written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler. It is a sequel to Happy Gilmore (1996), and stars Sandler alongside Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Benny Safdie, Bad Bunny, and Ben Stiller. It was released onto Netflix on July 25, 2025.
SPOILER ALERT: While I won’t talk openly about plot points of the film I will mention certain characters below which, in and of itself may be spoilers. If you want to be totally spoiler free skip this review until you’ve watched it. You’ve been warned.
In the era of reboots and legacy sequels, it’s easy to roll your eyes when another beloved ‘90s classic gets a modern-day follow-up. When Happy Gilmore 2 was announced, many fans were cautiously optimistic, while others questioned the necessity of resurrecting the cult golf comedy nearly 30 years after its original release. But sometimes, a movie comes along that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel — it just takes it for another really fun spin. Happy Gilmore 2 is exactly that: a love letter to fans of the original, packed with humor, heart, nostalgia, and a surprising amount of emotional depth.
First off, Adam Sandler slides back into Happy’s shoes like he never left. The anger issues, the hockey obsession, the terrible putting — it’s all there, but now layered with the maturity (well, semi-maturity) of a man who’s been around the block. The film smartly addresses the passage of time without getting too sentimental or self-serious. When a young hotshot golfer with an attitude problem — reminiscent of Happy in his prime — challenges the legacy he accidentally built, Happy is pulled back into the world he once left behind.
The plot is simple and effective: Happy reenter the pro circuit, and face off against old enemies and new threats in a climactic golf tournament that’s as absurd and exciting as anything in the original film. And while it follows familiar beats, it does so with such charm and energy that you can’t help but smile throughout.
What really elevates Happy Gilmore 2 are the cameos. This movie is packed with them, and they’re not cheap or forced — they’re woven into the story in ways that feel organic and genuinely funny. Christopher McDonald returns as Shooter McGavin, and he steals every scene he’s in. Now a disgraced golfer in the loony bin, Shooter’s rivalry with Happy is as hilarious as ever.
Julie Bowen is back as Virginia Venit… sort of. I’ll leave it at that to keep this review spoiler free.
Then there are the wild cameos. Ben Stiller reprises his sadistic nursing home orderly from Happy Gilmore, now running a luxury rehab center. Kevin Nealon, Joe Flaherty (“Jackass!”), and even Bob Barker (through clever editing and previously unseen footage) all make appearances that are used tastefully and hilariously. Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, and Scottie Scheffler show up as fictionalized versions of themselves. Last, but not least, John Daly steals the show.
What makes Happy Gilmore 2 especially enjoyable is that it doesn’t try to be more than it is. It knows we didn’t need a sequel, so it leans into what we want: comfort, laughs, and the joy of revisiting characters we love. It’s not aiming for awards — it’s aiming for fun. And it absolutely nails it.
Yes, some jokes are silly, some plot points are predictable, and sure, the whole concept is ridiculous — but that’s what Happy Gilmore always was. The sequel doesn’t try to fix what wasn’t broken. It just gives us more of what we loved, with a modern polish and a little more heart.
Happy Gilmore 2 (2025) – Final Thoughts and Recommendation
In a world full of bloated, joyless sequels and cash-grab remakes, Happy Gilmore 2 feels like a breath of fresh, alcohol-scented air. It may not be groundbreaking, but it’s thoroughly entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the original or just looking for a good laugh, this sequel is worth checking out.
Bottom line: we didn’t need Happy Gilmore 2, but now that it’s here, I’m glad we got it.
