The sequel to Adam Sandler’s 1996 golf comedy “Happy Gilmore” delivered more than laughs in New Jersey, racking up $152.5 million in local spending across 64 days of filming, the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC) said.
The movie also set a single week record on Nielsen’s streaming charts for its premiere weekend July 25-27, with 2.89 billion minutes of viewing time in the U.S. Average daily spend for “Happy Gilmore 2” hit $2.3 million, including $1.2 million on lodging and $6.4 million for extras, according to Netflix and Nielsen data.
“New Jersey has become a happy place for filmmakers, with above-par tax credits, local talent and diverse locations,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan.
“As more productions choose New Jersey, the industry will generate jobs and support small businesses statewide,” Sullivan added.
Did You Catch the Guest Stars?
NFL Kansas City Chief tight end Travis Kelce, 35, (AKA boyfriend of Taylor Swift) plays a waiter in the film and his dad Ed has a cameo as a club member. Rapper, reggaeton, and sometimes actor Bad Bunny has a role as Happy’s caddy.
Rapper and songwriter Eminem has a cameo, and professional golfers Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Bubba Watson appear in the film. Actor comedians Ben Stiller, Nick Swardson, and Kevin Nealon also have cameos. Actor Steve Buscemi plays Happy’s neighbor, Jeopardy host Ken Jennings plays himself, as does golf legend John Daly. Then there are WNBA star Kelsey Plum, and Grammy-winning record producer Andrew Watt.
Then there’s Post Malone, Guy Fieri, and lots of pro golfers: Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIIroy, and Brooks Koepka all play alongside Happy in the U.S. Bank Tour Championship.
“Man, this life is crazy!! Still so surreal I got this opportunity,” Kelce, 35, said on Instagram last month. “@adamsandler SANDMAN!! Thank you brotha, for the opportunity and for giving us all Happy Gilmore 2! Everybody, go check it out right now!”
Sandler, Netflix, and Jersey
Sandler and Netflix have a long-standing multi-million-dollar relationship that has so far produced 10 movies over the past decade. The 58-year-old actor founded Happy Madison Productions in 1999, and it’s reportedly one of the most successful independent production companies in Hollywood. Happy Madison has produced popular films like “50 First Dates,” “Grown Ups,” “The Benchwarmers,” “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” and “Murder Mystery.”
Another film potentially starring his second born daughter, Sunny Sandler, 16, titled “Don’t Say Good Luck,” is rumored to be in the works. Also an actor, she played the role of Vienna Gilmore in “Happy Gilmore 2” and Stacy Friedman in “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.”
Sandler’s first born daughter Sadie, 19, and his wife Jackie, were also in “Happy Gilmore 2.” Sadie, also an actor, was in “Hotel Transylvania” (2012), “Pixels” (2015), and “Bedtime Stories” (2008), among other productions.
NJ: 31 Towns, 9 Counties, 3K Extras
Happy Gilmore 2 used 3,000 extras, with open casting calls drawing big crowds of local residents hoping for a chance at getting their 15 minutes of fame (and a paycheck). One open call in Morristown drew over 12,000 hopefuls, per reports.
The production also hired over 400 crew members and 400 vendors, and filmed scenes in nine of New Jersey’s 21 counties, 31 of its 564 municipalities, and six of the state’s 300 golf courses.
Connecting the “Happy Gilmore 2” location dots, film crews were in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Warren counties. The film was shot in these NJ locations:
🎬Irvington: Exterior of the Gilmore family’s house
🎬Belleville: Exterior of the Gilmore family’s house
🎬Bloomfield: Forest Hill Field Club
🎬Atlantic Highlands: Beacon Hill Country Club
🎬Bedminster: Fiddlers Elbow Country Club
🎬Demarest: Alpine Country Club
🎬Rockleigh: Rockleigh Golf Course
🎬West Orange: Montclair Golf Club and Pleasantdale Château & Conference Estate
🎬Hackettstown: Farmview Golf Center mini golf
🎬Closter: Closter Golf Center driving range
🎬Roseland: Essex Golf Center driving range
🎬Newark: Newark Liberty International Airport, Terminal A
🎬Millburn: Goldberg’s World Famous Deli & Bagels
🎬Morristown: LOKL Café, specialty coffee shop
🎬Montclair: Faubourg, a French brasserie and lounge
🎬Garfield: Steve’s Burger
“From golf courses and universities to airports, beaches and suburban neighborhoods, New Jersey has everything a production company desires,” said Jon M. Crowley, executive director of the state’s Motion Picture and Television Commission.
First Lady Tammy Murphy and representatives from the governor’s office and NJMPTVC joined Adam Sandler on set while filming at Fiddler’s Elbow, where many of the golf scenes were filmed.
According to the Virginia Turf Grass Council, New Jersey golf course revenues generated $1.4 billion of total economic activity in 2019, and was responsible for more than 11,000 jobs.
Netflix Partners With New Jersey
Netflix is a frequent filming partner in New Jersey, having already produced “The Irishman” and “Nonnas” and is shooting or will soon shoot “The Whisper Man,” “72 Hours,” and “Office Romance.”
The streaming giant headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley recently broke ground on a $1 billion production facility at Fort Monmouth. The 500,000-square-foot campus is already creating construction work and is expected to create permanent production jobs.
The 292-acre former US Army hub was founded in 1917, with most of its history as Signal Corps, operating as a training camp for the Army’s information technology and cyber warfare branch.
Netflix budgeted an estimated $1 billion transforming the acreage into a premier East Coast production hub. The development will feature 12 state-of-the-art soundstages totaling nearly 500,000 square feet, with additional areas supporting film uses and community amenities.
First Lady Tammy Murphy joined Sandler on set during filming at Fiddler’s Elbow, one of more than 330 golf courses in the state. The golf industry is responsible for $1.4 billion in economic activity and more than 11,000 jobs, according to the Virginia Turfgrass Council.
