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Entertainment • Film

Happy Gilmore

Happy Gilmore is a 1996 American sports comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and starring Adam Sandler.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Happy Gilmore is a 1996 American sports comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and starring Adam Sandler in the title role. The story follows a frustrated former hockey player who discovers a talent for golf and enters tournaments to save his grandmother’s house from foreclosure. The film became a commercial success and later developed a cult following.

Premise

The film follows Happy Gilmore, a violent and frustrated hockey player who discovers that his powerful slapshot translates into exceptional golf drives. He enters professional golf to win prize money and prevent his grandmother’s house from being taken.

Production

Happy Gilmore was directed by Dennis Dugan and produced by Robert Simonds. It was released by Universal Pictures and has a runtime of 92 minutes.

Reception and legacy

The film performed well at the box office and has since become a cult comedy, especially among golf fans. It is frequently cited among Adam Sandler’s best-known early films. Happy Gilmore has long been popular with Canadian audiences because it centres on hockey, a sport strongly associated with Canada, and its humour and sports setting helped it become a widely quoted comedy among Canadian viewers.

Sequel

A sequel titled Happy Gilmore 2 was released in 2025. Sources identify it as a continuation of the original film’s story and character.

Key facts

  • The film stars Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore, an unsuccessful hockey player who becomes a golfer.
  • Its central plot involves Happy trying to raise money to save his grandmother’s house.
  • The film was a commercial success and later became a cult favourite.
  • A sequel, Happy Gilmore 2, was released in 2025.
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Canadian context

Happy Gilmore has long been popular with Canadian audiences because it centers on hockey, a sport strongly associated with Canada, and its humour and sports setting helped it become a widely quoted comedy among Canadian viewers.

Frequently asked questions

What is Happy Gilmore about?
It is about a failed hockey player who discovers he has a gift for golf and enters tournaments to save his grandmother’s house.
Who starred in Happy Gilmore?
Adam Sandler plays the title role, with Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, and Carl Weathers in supporting roles.
Who directed Happy Gilmore?
The film was directed by Dennis Dugan.
When was Happy Gilmore released?
It was released in the United States on February 16, 1996.
What genre is Happy Gilmore?
It is a sports comedy film.
Is there a sequel to Happy Gilmore?
Yes. A sequel titled Happy Gilmore 2 was released in 2025.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Gilmore
    Supports: 1996 release, plot, cast, director, box office, cult following, sequel mention
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/happy_gilmore
    Supports: genre, director, producer, screenplay, distributor, release date, runtime, synopsis
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116483/
    Supports: release date, plot synopsis, genre, rating
  4. VH1 — https://www.vh1.com/news/pacove/things-you-didnt-know-about-happy-gilmore
    Supports: release year, premise, popularity as a comedy classic
  5. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Gilmore
    Supports: film identification, director, star, sequel development