[OSENWORLD] Nearly 30 years after its original release, the beloved golf comedy Happy Gilmore is back — and so is Adam Sandler, now 59, swinging his club once again in Happy Gilmore 2. The long-awaited sequel premieres July 25 on Netflix.
This time, “Happy” returns to the course not for fame, but to pay for his daughter’s ballet school tuition. Familiar faces Julie Bowen (as Virginia) and Christopher McDonald (as Shooter McGavin) reprise their iconic roles, while newcomers like NFL star Travis Kelce and rapper Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi) round out the cast.
But Happy Gilmore 2 isn’t stepping onto an easy green. It faces unexpected competition from Netflix’s breakout animated feature K‑Pop Demon Hunters — a global sensation that’s redefining what K-animation can be.
Since its release, K‑Pop Demon Hunters has become a summer juggernaut, topping Netflix’s global Top 10 list in 93 countries. The fictional girl group “HUNTR/X” has taken the charts by storm, with their track “Golden” hitting No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and reaching No. 4 on the Hot 100. Another song from the film, “Your Idol,” is currently No. 1 on the U.S. Spotify chart (as of July 25).
Blending K-pop spectacle with action-fantasy tropes, the film is being hailed as “part animated feature, part music phenomenon.” Its hybrid appeal has sparked a new model for global content success.
While Happy Gilmore 2 is tailor-made for nostalgic fans of 1990s Hollywood comedies — packed with SNL-style humor and Adam Sandler’s signature warmth — K‑Pop Demon Hunters speaks to a new generation raised on fandom, fast visuals, and viral soundtracks.
Rather than a showdown, the two releases offer a snapshot of today’s evolving entertainment landscape: one rooted in heart and humor, the other in rhythm and spectacle. Either way, this summer, it’s the fans who win.
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
