Hollywood Comes to NJ: Adam Sandler’s Happy Place

Over the past year, New Jersey has been buzzing with film crews and a big part of that excitement has been thanks to Adam Sandler. His latest Netflix movie, Happy Gilmore 2, spent months filming throughout the state, drawing national attention to our golf courses, beaches, and downtown streets.

Keep an eye out for some of these familiar spots if you plan to watch it this weekend!

Where They Filmed

Many scenes for the sequel were shot at some of New Jersey’s most beautiful locations, including:

• Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster and Montclair Golf Club for the golf tournament scenes

• Pleasantdale Château in West Orange, transformed into an awards gala backdrop

  
  

• Ideal Beach in Middletown, where Happy practiced his signature swing

  
  

• Neighborhoods and small businesses in Kearny, Closter, Millburn, Morristown, and South Orange

  
  

If you spotted film trucks last fall, there’s a good chance it was part of the production.

How It’s Impacting NJ

Productions like this bring a lot more than just star sightings. The Netflix team spent an estimated $150 million while on location, creating a boost for local restaurants, hotels, and shops. Residents from Kearny to Hackettstown lined the sidewalks to watch filming and meet Sandler, who was generous with selfies and hellos.

For towns like Montclair, West Orange, and Morristown, the exposure has been invaluable. These places are now on the radar of movie fans looking to visit the filming sites—whether that’s grabbing a bite at a deli that made it into a scene, or taking a walk around the golf courses and parks featured in the film.

More to Come

While Happy Gilmore 2 was the biggest production, Sandler has also been filming another Netflix project in Montclair. These projects are putting a spotlight on the unique character of New Jersey towns, and giving people across the country a new reason to visit.

Why This Matters for Real Estate

When film and TV productions highlight our neighborhoods, they bring attention to everything our towns offer, walkable streets, strong communities, beautiful outdoor spaces. It’s not uncommon for this kind of visibility to spark new interest in moving here, or for local businesses to get a bump in demand.

Have you guys watched the movie yet? Are there any other famous NJ movie spots you know about?