Happy Gilmore 2, the sequel to Adam Sandler’s 1996 golf comedy, has shattered Netflix’s streaming records by accumulating 2.9 billion viewing minutes in its debut weekend, marking the highest single-week performance for a movie in Nielsen’s five-year history of streaming charts.
Who: The film stars Adam Sandler reprising his role as Happy Gilmore, produced by his company Happy Madison Productions in collaboration with Netflix. It continues the story of the amateur golfer with a violent swing, appealing to fans of the original and new audiences alike.
What: Happy Gilmore 2 achieved a record-breaking 2.9 billion minutes of viewership in the United States from July 25 to 27, 2025, according to Nielsen data. This surpasses all previous movie records on streaming platforms and underscores its massive viewer engagement.
When: The movie was released on Netflix on July 25, 2025, and the record was set during its opening weekend. The news of this achievement was reported on August 21, 2025, based on Nielsen’s streaming charts, making it recent and relevant.
Where: While the Nielsen data focuses on U.S. viewership, Netflix reported 46.7 million views worldwide for the same period, indicating global success. The film streamed exclusively on Netflix’s platform, accessible to subscribers everywhere.
Why: The success can be attributed to nostalgia for the original film, Sandler’s strong fan base, and effective marketing by Netflix. It is the tenth collaboration between Sandler and Netflix, building on a proven partnership that consistently delivers popular content.
How: Viewers engaged heavily with the film, with the 2.9 billion minutes equating to approximately 24.58 million complete viewings of the 114-minute movie. Netflix’s algorithm, promotional campaigns, and the star power of Sandler drove high initial engagement and word-of-mouth buzz.
Impact: This record cements Netflix’s strategy of investing in original content and star-driven projects, potentially influencing how streaming services measure success and greenlight future films. It may lead to increased budgets for sequels and similar high-profile releases.
What’s next: Given this success, there might be discussions about further sequels or spin-offs within the Happy Gilmore universe. Sandler’s future projects with Netflix are likely to be prioritized, and the industry will monitor for similar trends in streaming performance.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/streaming-ratings-july-21-27-2025-1236350102/