For decades, sports fans have argued whether “Rudy” (1993) or “Rocky” (1976) deserves the crown for the greatest sports movie, but the comedy “Happy Gilmore” (1996) deserves the title.
“Happy Gilmore” tears up the sports movie rulebook, following a failed hockey player who transforms the criticized sport of golf into a rollercoaster of unpredictability. The film revolves around Happy Gilmore (played by Adam Sandler) swinging his way into greatness to save his grandmother’s house from the IRS.
Happy joins the Professional Golfers’ Association of America Tour, where he gains attention for his wild swing, and even wilder antics.
In one scene, for instance, Happy vents his frustration after placing last in the pro-am tournament by fighting his own teammate, Bob Barker (played by Bob Barker). The scene earned plenty of laughs from viewers like myself—something that other sports movies fail to do.
While Happy gains fans for his unorthodox behavior, professional golfers dismiss him as a “fake” sportsman. Despite the criticism, Happy’s drive to save his grandmother’s house outshines the doubt. Here, “Happy Gilmore” teaches viewers that family comes first, and that sacrifices have to be made to help those we love most.
Beyond the comedy, there is an underdog story in “Happy Gilmore.” Happy, a newcomer to golf, is against all odds yet finds himself on a professional golf tour. With little expectation of success against lifelong golfers, viewers are drawn to his natural talent—we don’t want to see that 400-yard drive go to waste. The audience wants to see how Happy overcomes his weaknesses, like his poor putting, which drops him down on the leaderboard.
Happy is hard not to root for. His realness, his underdog story, and good intentions—saving his grandma’s house—make him both lovable and hilarious.
The iconic scene where Happy dives into the water to wrestle an alligator for his gold ball captures his spirit perfectly: he’ll go to extraordinary lengths to win and to entertain. In many ways, Happy reflects the appeal of many real-life athletes, such as mixed martial artist Conor McGregor, who has gained global stardom not just for his skills in the ring, but for his larger-than-life personality.
McGregor, like Happy, broke the mold that you have to act professionally to be likable. Both show that being your authentic self in sports creates a deeper connection with the audience. Instead of showcasing only athletic talent, they humanize sports and remind us they’re for everyone regardless of background.
Despite the combination of both comedy and an underdog story, die-hard “Rudy” fans still argue that their film is the greatest sports movie of all time. It’s a heartfelt story that inspires audiences to believe that if you put your mind to a goal, you can achieve it. However, “Rudy” lacks the humor and relatability that Happy brought to the screen—a charm that would help its sequel draw more than 46 million viewers in its first three days of release, smashing Netflix records in the United States.
Where “Rudy” celebrates the perseverance of one’s determination, “Happy Gilmore” reminds us perseverance doesn’t have to be solemn. In life, sometimes humor and passion are enough to help those we care about most.
Happy’s journey reminds us that hard work isn’t just about achieving greatness—it’s about using that strength to help those we love most. At the end of the day, whether you are a fan of underdog stories or comedies, one thing is clear: “Happy Gilmore” is the greatest sports movie of all time.
