The Directors Guild of America has announced the TV nominees for the 78th annual DGA Awards. The usual acclaimed shows are there: “The Pitt,” “The Studio,” “Severance,” and “Andor.” However, scrolling through the nominees list, one particular film stands out, and quite honestly, I’m all in for this.
The DGA put their high brows aside and decided to nominate Kyle Newacheck’s “Happy Gilmore 2” for Best TV Movie. The other nominees in the category include Jesse Armstrong’s “Mountainhead,” and Stephen Chbosky’s “Nonnas.”
I mean, sure—why not? First thing I wondered: were the movies really that bad on television this year? Apparently, yes. I couldn’t find many noteworthy ones. Then again, critics, typically tough on Sandler’s comedic output, did give the sequel somewhat of a pass. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds a 62% score, placing it near the upper tier of Sandler’s silly comedies.
Honestly, the film was semi-watchable. I expected the worst, but instead got a few decent laughs. That’s how low my expectations were going in. Shooter McGavin, now in a padded cell, chuckling to himself while reading “The Shining” and muttering, “This guy’s losin’ it!” is a genuinely hilarious moment. And yes, Bad Bunny, one of the biggest Latin music stars in the world, stole some scenes as Happy’s weird new caddy.
Would I have been disappointed had I paid $15 to see this in a theater? Absolutely. But watching it from the couch, free of parking hassles and noisy crowds, made it a perfectly disposable, mildly entertaining piece of IP. However, DGA nomination–worthy? Laughable.
“Happy Gilmore 2” debuted on July 25 and, in just three days, racked up a staggering 46.7 million views—the biggest U.S. opening weekend in Netflix history, surpassing every previous film on the platform. It’s also the most-watched launch ever for a Sandler-led project on the streamer. The numbers are proof that nostalgia continues to be a highly bankable commodity.