| Happy Gilmore | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Dennis Dugan |
| Written by | |
| Produced by | Robert Simonds |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Arthur Albert |
| Edited by | Jeff Gourson |
| Music by | Mark Mothersbaugh |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $12 million[1] |
| Box office | $41.4 million[2] |
Happy Gilmore is a 1996 Americansportscomedy film starringAdam Sandler in the title role. Directed byDennis Dugan and produced byRobert Simonds, the supporting cast includesChristopher McDonald,Julie Bowen, andCarl Weathers. The film follows Happy Gilmore, a boorish, failedice hockey player with a unique talent for golf, who seeks to raise enough money to prevent theforeclosure of his grandmother's house.
The screenplay was written by Sandler and his writing partnerTim Herlihy, in their second feature collaboration after the previous year'sBilly Madison. This film also marks the first collaboration between Sandler and Dugan.Happy Gilmore was released in theaters on February 16, 1996, byUniversal Pictures, and received mixed reviews from critics. The film was a commercial success, earning $41.2 million on a $12 million budget, and it won anMTV Movie Award for Best Fight for Sandler andBob Barker. It has developed acult following, especially in the golf community. Asequel,Happy Gilmore 2, was released onNetflix in 2025.
Happy Gilmore is an aspiringice hockey player, but despite a powerfulslapshot learned from his late father, his short temper and lack of skating coordination limit his professional prospects. One day, Happy learns that his grandmother, who raised him after his father's death, owes theInternal Revenue Service (IRS) $270,000 in back taxes.
She has 90 days to pay off the debt or faceforeclosure on her house. Happy sends her to a retirement home until he can figure out a way to pay off the debt. However, unbeknownst to Happy, the residents are mistreated and forced to work in asweatshop.
While challenging a pair of movers repossessing his late grandfather's oldgolf clubs, Happy discovers that his unorthodox slapshot-style swing candrive a ball 400 yards. He beginshustling golfers at adriving range, where he meets Chubbs Peterson, a former pro golf star who lost a hand in analligator attack.
Chubbs urges Happy to enter theWaterburyOpen, the winner of which will earn an automatic spot on thePGA Tour, as well as a sizable cash reward. Desperate to reclaim his grandmother's house, Happy agrees and wins the Open. Learning that he needs to supply his own caddy on the tour, Happy hastily hires a homeless man named Otto.
Happy quickly becomes a fan favorite due to his unusually long drives and unorthodox antics. In one incident, Happy kills the one-eyed alligator that took Chubbs' hand. Despite this, Happy struggles withputting, and his on-course profane meltdowns and lack ofgolf etiquette soon draw the ire of tour officials. Due to improved television ratings with a broader spectrum of viewers, higher attendance, and new sponsorship offers, tour public relations head Virginia Venit intervenes on Happy's behalf, promising to help him with his anger. With her support, Happy improves his accuracy and behavior, and they become romantically involved.
The tour's arrogant presumed favorite Shooter McGavin views Happy as a threat, so he hires aheckler named Donald Floyd to taunt him at apro-am event. Donald distracts Happy by repeatedly calling him a "jackass", hindering his gameplay. A subsequent fistfight with his celebrity partnerBob Barker, who criticizes Happy's frequent misses, leads to a $25,000 fine and one-month suspension.
Virginia secures Happy a lucrative endorsement deal withSubway to make up for the lost revenue, giving him the money he needs to buy Grandma's house back. During the auction, however, Shooter spitefully outbids Happy in an attempt to force him to quit the tour. Virginia encourages Happy not to quit, and he makes a deal with Shooter: if Happy wins theTour Championship, Shooter will return the house, but if Shooter wins, he can keep it and Happy will quit golf. Happy seeks out Chubbs, who helps him improve his putting by practicing at aminiature golf course and gifts him a custom putter in the shape of a hockey stick. As thanks, Happy presents Chubbs with the alligator's head, startling him and causing him to fall out of a nearby window to his death.
Happy is paired with Shooter for the Tour Championship. Shooter takes the lead early, but Happy's regular game puts him in front with one round to go. Desperate to finally win a Championship jacket, Shooter again hires Donald, who drives a car onto the course and runs over Happy, impairing his long-drive ability and focus. Shooter takes the lead, but Happy, encouraged by Grandma, rallies to tie him.
On the final hole, Shooter's tee shot lands in the crowd. Despite having to play the ball off the foot of Happy's imposing ex-boss, Mr. Larson, he manages to save par with a long putt. A television tower damaged by Donald's car falls onto the green and blocks Happy's line to a winning putt. Shooter insists Happy play the ball "as it lies," and, with Chubbs' divine intervention, Happy wins by using the tower as aRube Goldberg machine to sink his putt.
Enraged, Shooter tries to steal Happy's gold jacket and tries to run away, but gets caught and beaten by a mob of fans led by Larson. Returning to his grandmother's house, Happy celebrates his victory with her, Virginia, and Otto.
Additionally,Ben Stiller is uncredited for his role as abusive orderly Hal.Robert Smigel plays the IRS agent who informs Happy that Grandma is delinquent on taxes, andWill Sasso and Dee Jay Jackson appear as the movers who challenge Happy at golf.
Jared Van Snellenberg portrays Happy's unnamed caddy at the Waterbury Open (later revealed in the sequel to be professional golferWill Zalatoris despite him not even having been born when the first film was produced and released), andKevin Nealon plays Gary Potter, an eccentric professional golfer and Happy's partner at the AT&T Open. Professional golfersLee Trevino andMark Lye, sportscasterVerne Lundquist, and then-currentThe Price Is Right hostBob Barker all play themselves. Charles L. Brame makes an uncredited appearance as the spirit ofAbraham Lincoln, who waves to Happy along with the spirits of Chubbs and the alligator in the final scene.
Happy Gilmore was directed byDennis Dugan,[3] and written bySaturday Night Live (SNL) alumniTim Herlihy andAdam Sandler.[4][5] Herlihy and Sandler were roommates in college and wrote stand-up comedy together, before moving on to screenplays.[4] After Sandler was fired fromSNL in 1995, he moved on to films.[6] He and Herlihy wroteBilly Madison (1995),[4][5] which proved successful for distributorUniversal Pictures. As such, Herlihy and Sandler began a new project. In an office during a brainstorming session, they came up with ahigh-concept premise for a film about a "hockey player who smacks a 400 yard drive".[5]Judd Apatow performed a script rewrite, although he went uncredited.[7]
The Happy Gilmore character is loosely based on Sandler's childhood friendKyle McDonough, who played ice hockey and would golf with Sandler as they grew up. Sandler could never hit the ball as far as McDonough, and figured that McDonough's hockey skills gave him an edge.[8] Meanwhile, Chubbs Peterson's missing hand is anin-joke referencing actorCarl Weathers' filmPredator (1987), which depicts his character losing his arm.[9] Herlihy and Sandler included any joke that made them laugh and do not remember who came up with which, although Herlihy takes credit for Shooter McGavin's "I eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast" line.[5] In a 1994 interview, Sandler cited the golf comedyCaddyshack (1980),[10] a film he and Herlihy bonded over in college,[11] as inspiration.[10]
Former pro golferMark Lye served as a consultant on the script,[12] and told Herlihy and Sandler after seeing their initial ideas, "You gotta be crazy. You cannot do a movie like that."[13] According to Lye, the initial drafts featured Happy winning theMasters Tournament: "They had the green jacket. They were desecrating theUSGA. Making fun ofAugusta National."[13] He suggested that Happy win a fictional tournament, and Herlihy and Sandler changed the jacket's color from green to gold. Lye also disliked the unrealistic nature of early drafts, which depicted Happy repeatedly making 400-yard drives, so he took the crew to aPGA Tour event so they could understand the atmosphere of golf.[12][13] The final script, the one Lye gave approval, was Herlihy and Sandler's fifth draft.[13]
Dugan became attached to direct through Sandler. Years earlier, Dugan had attempted to cast Sandler in one of his films, but the producers did not let him because Sandler was not well-known. "A couple of years later, [Sandler] is big", Dugan said. "I wanted to be hired to directHappy Gilmore with him. I walk in the room, and he says: 'You're the guy who wanted to give me that part. I don't need to know anything else, I want to work with you.'"[14]Happy Gilmore was produced on a budget of $12 million[9] and filmed entirely at locations inBritish Columbia. Most scenes taking place at golf courses were filmed atPitt Meadows at the Swan-e-set Bay Resort & Country Club,[15] while interior shots, such as those in the broadcast booth, took place in an abandonedVancouver hospital.[16]Arthur Albert served as cinematographer, while Mark Lane was the set decorator.[17]Devo frontmanMark Mothersbaugh composed the film's soundtrack.[9]
Christopher McDonald declined the role of Shooter McGavin twice because he was tired of playing villains and wanted to spend more time with his family.[9][18]Kevin Costner was approached but turned it down in favor of another 1996 golf-themed comedy,Tin Cup, whileBruce Campbell lobbied hard for the part.[9] McDonald became interested in the role after winning a round of golf, and decided to take it after he met with Sandler. According to McDonald, Dugan "didn't want to see the Bad Guy 101 again" and gave McDonald the freedom toimprovise on set.[18]
Happy Gilmore features appearances fromRichard Kiel, known for playingJaws in theJames Bond film series;[3]Bob Barker, the host ofThe Price Is Right;[9] andVerne Lundquist, a golf sportscaster.[16]
According to Lundquist, he filmed his scenes in the abandoned hospital as productionwrapped. Sandler'sNew York University roommateJack Giarraputo sat next to Lundquist in every shot, as Sandler wanted him to appear in the film. In 2016, Lundquist stated he still gets a monthly $34 check from theScreen Actors Guild for his appearance in the film.[16]
According to Sandler,Ed McMahon was originally hired to do the fight scene instead of Bob Barker, but McMahon changed his mind when he learned about the movie's crude humor and didn't want to lose the fight, so Bob Barker was chosen becauseChuck Norris was Barker's neighbor and taught him karate and Sandler rewrote the script to make Barker win the fight.
Filming took place in and aroundVancouver, British Columbia,Canada.[19]
Happy Gilmore was a commercial success, ranking number two at the U.S. box office on its debut weekend with $8.5 million in revenue, behindBroken Arrow. The film was made for $12 million and grossed a total of $41.2 million worldwide, with $38.8 million of that at the North American domestic box office.[2][1] It would also gross more box office money when it was re-released in 2025.[2][1]
OnRotten Tomatoes,Happy Gilmore has an approval rating of 65% based on 60 reviews, with an average rating of 6/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Those who enjoy Adam Sandler's schtick will find plenty to love in this gleefully juvenile take on professional golf; those who don't, however, will find it unfunny and forgettable."[20] OnMetacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 31 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.[21] Audiences surveyed byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade "B+" on an A+ to F scale.[22]
Brian Lowry ofVariety wrote, "The general tone nevertheless makes it difficult to elevate the gags beyond an occasional chuckle". Lowry only noted a few scenes he found inspired, including the fight scene withBob Barker and when Happy attempts to find his "Happy Place" which was described as "Felliniesque".[23]Roger Ebert gave the film one and a half stars out of four, stating that Adam Sandler's character "doesn't have a pleasing personality: He seems angry even when he's not supposed to be, and his habit of pounding everyone he dislikes is tiring in a PG-13 movie". Ebert also noted the film'sproduct placement stating that he "probably missed a few, but I countedDiet Pepsi,Pepsi,Pepsi Max,Subway,Budweiser (in bottles, cans, and Bud-dispensing helmets),Michelob,Visa cards,Bell Atlantic,AT&T,Sizzler,Red Lobster,Wilson,Golf Digest, theESPN sports network, andTop-Flite golf balls".[24] Owen Gleiberman ofEntertainment Weekly gave the film a grade "D+" calling it "A one-jokeCaddyshack for the blitzed and jaded," although he did praise Sandler's confident performance.[25]
Darren Bignell ofEmpire wrote: "The real surprise is that it's a lot of fun, with Sandler becoming more personable as the film progresses, and a couple of truly side-splitting scenes."[26]
The film has developed acult following in the golf community, withGolf.com,Consequence of Sound, andGolf Digest praising the film, particularly the villain Shooter McGavin.[27][28][29]
The "Happy Gilmore swing", featuring a walking or running approach, is often imitated or attempted for fun, including by touring golf professionals.[30] Three-time major championPádraig Harrington is particularly well known for his impression and even uses the technique in training.[31] The TV seriesSport Science has featured Harrington's "Happy Gilmore swing", demonstrating how it can indeed generate additional distance, though at the cost of accuracy.[32]
Long drive champion and professional golferJamie Sadlowski, also a former hockey player who can hit golf balls over 400 yards, has been called "the real-life version of Happy Gilmore".[33]
Lee Trevino regretted his appearance in the film and said he would not have done it if he had known how much swearing there would be in the movie.[34][35] However, Trevino would later return to make a cameo appearance in the sequel.[36]
In 2020, McDonald reprised his role as Shooter in the trailer for the video gamePGA Tour 2K21,[37] and appeared as a playable golfer inPGA Tour 2K25.[38]
The scene with Barker beating up Gilmore increased interest inThe Price Is Right among younger demographics, particularly young men. Barker said that someone in the audience asked him aboutHappy Gilmore almost every day. Barker parodied theHappy Gilmore fight in a 2014 episode ofThe Bold and the Beautiful, where he foughtWyatt Spencer after arguing with him.[39]
In 2015, Sandler and Barker reenacted their fight for theComedy CentralNight of Too Many Stars fundraiser in aid of autism charities.[40]
The fight scene was also highlighted in special primetime episodes ofThe Price Is Right, as well as various news articles that announced Barker's death on August 26, 2023, at the age of 99.[citation needed]
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| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | MTV Movie Award | Best Comedic Performance - Adam Sandler | Nominated |
| 1996 | MTV Movie Award | Best Fight - Adam Sandler and Bob Barker | Won |
| 1996 | Stinkers Bad Movie Awards | Worst Actor - Adam Sandler | Nominated |
| 1997 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Actor - Adam Sandler (also forBulletproof) | Nominated |
| 1997 | Kids' Choice Awards | Best Movie | Nominated |
The film was re-released byFandango Media in 2025, with screenings taking place on April 27 and April 30, three months before the release of its sequelHappy Gilmore 2.[41][42] The sequel was released on July 25, 2025, and is dedicated to Morris, the alligator, who died on May 11, 2025.[43]
During September 2022, Sandler stated that he hoped to eventually make a sequel, saying he had been creating ideas for what a follow-up film would be, while stating the character would be involved in a senior golf tour.[44]
In March 2024,Christopher McDonald mentioned that he had been shown a first draft of the script of the sequel by Sandler, reviving speculation of a sequel being made. On May 15, 2024,Netflix confirmed a sequel was in development.[45] Filming began in New Jersey on September 9, 2024, and wrapped up on December 10, 2024. RapperEminem, football playersReggie Bush andTravis Kelce, talk show hostDan Patrick, and wrestlerBecky Lynch had cameo appearances in the film.[46] The film released on Netflix on July 25, 2025.[47]
