Happy GilmoreCame Out 28 Years Ago — and Star Julie Bowen Says Her Kids Finally Watched It 'Just Last Night'

Mar. 15, 2025

Julie Bowen and Adam Sandler in 1996’s ‘Happy Gilmore’.Photo:Universal/Everett

Universal/Everett

It’s been almost three decades sinceHappy Gilmoredebuted, and theAdam Sandler-led golf comedy isfinally getting a sequel. ButJulie Bowen, who played Virginia Venit, says her kids only just first watched the original film.“They’ve never seen anything I’ve done,” Bowen, 54, toldSherri Shepherdon the Oct. 17, 2024, episode of her show. The actress shares sons Oliver, 17, and twins John and Gustave, 15, with ex-husband Scott Phillips.“They had heard I’m in lingerie with two pitchers of beer – which is true, but it’s not like sexy, it’s more funny, it’s kind of silly,” she continued.She confessed that her sons were excited for the upcoming sequel “because their friends are” — and that one of her son’s friends finally sat him down to make him watch the original.“Just last night, one of them watched it,” Bowen excitedly told Shepherd. ‘I have not gotten the review yet, and his friend sent it to me on Snapchat.”Julie Bowen and Adam Sandler in 1996’s ‘Happy Gilmore’.Joseph Lederer/Universal Pictures/EverettThough she wasn’t able to share her son’s reaction during the interview, Bowen admitted that her son’s friend didn’t even recognize her inHappy Gilmore.“He made [my son] watch it and he loved it, but he did say to me, ‘Who are you in it?’ ” she said while jokingly trying to recreate a still of her from the film. “He could not believe it was me at all.”Bowen has already confirmed that she will reprise her role in the upcoming sequel — and thatVirginia and Happy are still very much together. Christopher McDonald, who played the hot-shot golfer Shooter McGavin, will also return forHappy Gilmore 2.Stars such as Bad Bunny andTravis Kelceare alsoconfirmed as additions to the cast, though there’s still little information on what the plot of the movie might be. Despitenever golfingbefore landing a spot in the film, Margaret Qualley will also be making an appearance.Sandler has been pulling stars left and right for this sequel, though Nick Swardson (who has been tapped for the film) previously shared that a final script had yet to be ironed out, despite the filming date looming.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“It’s the most Sandler thing ever,” Swardson said.The jury is still out on whether or not Henry Winkler, who has worked with Sandler in a handful of projects over the years, will make an appearance inHappy Gilmore 2 —though Winkler recently admitted to doing last-minute favors for Sandler foras little as “a cookie.”“I didWaterboy. He called me up in the middle of the night. He said, ‘Henry, I need a favor. My actor didn’t show up. I need you to drive right now to the park,’ " Winkler said. “It’s in L.A., it is now 11:30 at night. I go and I say, ‘Okay.’ I shave. I drive. I go. I sit. I get makeup until 3:30 in the morning. Do you know what I got? A cookie.”

It’s been almost three decades sinceHappy Gilmoredebuted, and theAdam Sandler-led golf comedy isfinally getting a sequel. ButJulie Bowen, who played Virginia Venit, says her kids only just first watched the original film.

“They’ve never seen anything I’ve done,” Bowen, 54, toldSherri Shepherdon the Oct. 17, 2024, episode of her show. The actress shares sons Oliver, 17, and twins John and Gustave, 15, with ex-husband Scott Phillips.

“They had heard I’m in lingerie with two pitchers of beer – which is true, but it’s not like sexy, it’s more funny, it’s kind of silly,” she continued.

She confessed that her sons were excited for the upcoming sequel “because their friends are” — and that one of her son’s friends finally sat him down to make him watch the original.

“Just last night, one of them watched it,” Bowen excitedly told Shepherd. ‘I have not gotten the review yet, and his friend sent it to me on Snapchat.”

Julie Bowen and Adam Sandler in 1996’s ‘Happy Gilmore’.Joseph Lederer/Universal Pictures/Everett

Joseph Lederer/Universal Pictures/Everett

Though she wasn’t able to share her son’s reaction during the interview, Bowen admitted that her son’s friend didn’t even recognize her inHappy Gilmore.

“He made [my son] watch it and he loved it, but he did say to me, ‘Who are you in it?’ ” she said while jokingly trying to recreate a still of her from the film. “He could not believe it was me at all.”

Bowen has already confirmed that she will reprise her role in the upcoming sequel — and thatVirginia and Happy are still very much together. Christopher McDonald, who played the hot-shot golfer Shooter McGavin, will also return forHappy Gilmore 2.

Stars such as Bad Bunny andTravis Kelceare alsoconfirmed as additions to the cast, though there’s still little information on what the plot of the movie might be. Despitenever golfingbefore landing a spot in the film, Margaret Qualley will also be making an appearance.

Sandler has been pulling stars left and right for this sequel, though Nick Swardson (who has been tapped for the film) previously shared that a final script had yet to be ironed out, despite the filming date looming.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“It’s the most Sandler thing ever,” Swardson said.

The jury is still out on whether or not Henry Winkler, who has worked with Sandler in a handful of projects over the years, will make an appearance inHappy Gilmore 2 —though Winkler recently admitted to doing last-minute favors for Sandler foras little as “a cookie.”

“I didWaterboy. He called me up in the middle of the night. He said, ‘Henry, I need a favor. My actor didn’t show up. I need you to drive right now to the park,’ " Winkler said. “It’s in L.A., it is now 11:30 at night. I go and I say, ‘Okay.’ I shave. I drive. I go. I sit. I get makeup until 3:30 in the morning. Do you know what I got? A cookie.”

source: people.com