Happy Gilmore

Happy Gilmore
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Dennis Dugan
Written by	Tim Herlihy Adam Sandler
Produced by	Robert Simonds
Starring	Adam Sandler Christopher McDonald Julie Bowen Carl Weathers
Cinematography	Arthur Albert
Edited by	Jeff Gourson
Music by	Mark Mothersbaugh
Production companies	Brillstein-Grey Entertainment Robert Simonds Productions
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	February 16, 1996 (1996-02-16)
Running time	92 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$12 million[1]
Box office	$41.2 million[2]

Happy Gilmore is a 1996 American sports comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan, produced by Robert Simonds, and starring Adam Sandler in the title role, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, and Carl Weathers.

It follows the namesake failed ice hockey player who seeks to gather enough money to stop the foreclosure of his grandmother's house. Happy discovers a talent for golf and competes in paid tournaments, causing upset in the golf community as he gains a following for his skill and unconventional behavior.  

The screenplay was written by Sandler and his writing partner Tim Herlihy, in their second feature collaboration after the previous year's Billy Madison. The film also marks the first of several collaborations between Sandler and Dugan.

Happy Gilmore was released in theaters on February 16, 1996, by Universal Pictures. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film was a commercial success, earning $41.2 million on a $12 million budget, and it won an MTV Movie Award for Best Fight for Sandler and Bob Barker. As of 2024, a sequel is in development.