For years, Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore has lived in the minds of fans like a golf ball lodged firmly in the 18th hole of nostalgia. From the wild swing to the wilder rage, and finally the absurdly perfect ending, where Happy is congratulated by the ghost of Chubbs Peterson, Abraham Lincoln, and an alligator with unfinished business, the film became legend. Now, Sandler is returning with Happy Gilmore 2, saving fans from rewatching a VHS-era triumph for the hundredth time. However, Netflix had other plans.

In a classic good news and bad news fashion, the sequel is arriving, and the original is being escorted off the green.

Netflix is creating mixed feelings among viewers by announcing the departure of Happy Gilmore from its platform just days after promoting its long-awaited sequel. While Happy Gilmore 2 is scheduled for release on July 25, 2025, the original 1996 film will be removed from Netflix on August 1. This abrupt move leaves audiences with less than a week to revisit the original, unless they are willing to switch platforms such as Hulu or Peacock to continue their Sandler-centric viewing.

Although rotating streaming rights are not unusual, this timing is especially odd given that Happy Gilmore recently climbed to the number three position on Netflix’s Top 10 list. Removing the film at the exact moment interest is re-surging feels counterproductive, particularly as Netflix itself has been heavily marketing the sequel, which has a star-filled cast along with Adam Sandler, like Julie Bowen and even Taylor Swift's boyfriend. It appears that Netflix is giving with one hand and swiftly taking away with the other.

Is 'Happy Gilmore 2' on Netflix? When and Where Can You Watch Adam Sandler’s Summer 2025 Return

All hope is not lost for Happy Gilmore fans yet, as even though the original may not reside at Netflix, there are a few alternatives they can watch to fill the sadness. 

Of course, audiences can stream Happy Gilmore 2 soon, but those craving Adam Sandler’s signature blend of rage and redemption still have options on Netflix US. Hustle casts Adam Sandler as a weary NBA scout betting everything on an unknown player, think less golf club, more court hustle, same emotional chaos. Home Team offers Kevin James as a disgraced NFL coach trying to lead his son’s youth football squad, heartwarming, ridiculous, and peppered with exactly the kind of mayhem Happy Gilmore fans adore.

For those less athletically inclined, Grown Ups and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah are also available, proof that Sandler’s chaotic energy translates across midlife crises and middle school drama. No, it is not Happy Gilmore, but it is enough to make your remote hand forgive the loss.

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Which of these movies are you going to watch to fill the Happy Gilmore-sized void? Let us know in the comments down below!