You know the vibe. You're scrolling through Netflix on a Tuesday night, and there he is. The basketball shorts. The slightly crooked grin. Maybe a weird voice. Adam Sandler has basically become the human equivalent of a weighted blanket for streaming audiences.
But honestly, the "Sandman" has been on a bizarre, high-stakes tear lately. He’s bouncing between $100 million comedies and soul-crushing dramas so fast it’ll give you whiplash. If you haven't kept up with the most recent Adam Sandler movies, you've missed a space spider voiced by Paul Dano, a 74-year-old lizard, and the return of the most iconic golf swing in cinema history.
The 2024-2025 Pivot: Spaceman and Animation Wins
Early 2024 gave us Spaceman. It was... weird. Not "Happy Madison" weird, but "existential dread in a vacuum" weird. Sandler plays Jakub, a Czech astronaut who’s been alone in space for six months and is slowly losing his mind.
The critics were split, but you’ve got to respect the hustle. He spent most of the movie talking to a giant, telepathic space spider named Hanuš. While it didn't have the "anxiety-attack" energy of Uncut Gems, it proved Sandler isn't scared of getting quiet. Very quiet. Like, "whispering to a CGI arachnid about his failing marriage" quiet.
Then there was Leo.
If you have kids, you’ve probably heard "I’m 74!" yelled around your house. Sandler voiced the titular lizard in this animated musical, and it absolutely blew up. It didn't just do well; it became one of Netflix’s biggest animated hits ever.
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Expert Note: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently confirmed that Leo 2 is officially in development. Animation takes forever, so don't expect it before 2026 or 2027, but the lizard is coming back.
The Big One: Why Happy Gilmore 2 Changed Everything
Let’s talk about July 25, 2025. That was the day Happy Gilmore 2 finally hit Netflix, nearly thirty years after the original.
There was a lot of fear that this would be another Zoolander 2—a sequel that nobody asked for that ruins the legacy. But Sandler seemed to feel the weight of it. After Carl Weathers (Chubbs) passed away in 2024, the script reportedly went through some heavy rewrites to honor him.
The movie ended up being a massive nostalgia trip. We got:
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- Christopher McDonald returning as a silver-fox version of Shooter McGavin.
- Ben Stiller reprising his role as the world's most terrifying nursing home orderly.
- A bizarrely effective cameo from Travis Kelce.
The plot—Happy returning to the senior tour to pay for his daughter’s tuition—felt grounded enough to work. It wasn't high art, but it broke Netflix’s record for the biggest opening weekend for a comedy. People wanted to see the "gold jacket" talk again, and Sandler delivered.
Jay Kelly and the Clooney Connection
Just when you thought he was back to full-time slapstick, Sandler dropped Jay Kelly in late 2025. Directed by Noah Baumbach (who did The Meyerowitz Stories), this one paired Sandler with George Clooney.
Sandler plays George Clooney’s manager. It’s a "road movie" through Europe, and it’s honestly one of his most "grown-up" roles. He’s not yelling. He’s not wearing a wig. He’s just a frustrated, middle-aged guy reflecting on a life spent in someone else's shadow.
The buzz for this has been real. He actually just picked up the AARP Movies for Grownups Career Achievement Award in January 2026 because of it. At the ceremony, he joked about making 50 more movies before he dies, promising that "at least 25 of them will be good."
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What’s Coming in 2026 and Beyond?
So, what is actually on the horizon? The Sandler-Netflix deal is still the strongest marriage in Hollywood.
- The Safdie Project: There’s been a lot of "will-they-won't-they" with Josh Safdie. They were supposed to film a movie about high-end baseball card collecting, but it got derailed. As of now, it's on the back burner, but they did collaborate on his 2024 comedy special, Adam Sandler: Love You.
- The Art Heist Comedy: In June 2025, news leaked about a new project with producer Dylan Clark. It’s described as a "high-stakes art heist comedy." Think Ocean’s Eleven but with more cargo shorts.
- Family Ties: He’s also focused on producing. His daughters, Sunny and Sadie, are starring in their own projects like Don’t Say Good Luck and Roommates.
The Reality of the "Sandman" Legacy
People love to dunk on Adam Sandler. It's easy. But looking at the most recent Adam Sandler movies, you see a guy who has completely figured out the system. He makes the "silly" ones so he has the clout to make the "serious" ones.
He’s currently 59 years old. He’s at that point where he can play a grieving astronaut one month and a hockey player who hits people with golf clubs the next.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the Specials: If you haven't seen 100% Fresh or Love You, do it. They explain his current headspace better than any interview.
- Check out Jay Kelly: If you liked Hustle, this is the next logical step in his "serious actor" evolution.
- Don't wait for Leo 2 yet: It's in the works, but animation pipelines are slow. Put it on the 2027 calendar.
Sandler isn't going anywhere. Whether he's winning an Oscar (it could happen) or making Grown Ups 3 (which is also rumored to be in the works), he's the most consistent force in entertainment right now. Just keep your Netflix subscription active and the popcorn ready.
To stay updated on the specific filming locations for his upcoming art heist project, you can monitor the New Jersey Motion Picture & Television Commission filings, where Happy Madison has been increasingly active lately.