Turning twenty years old today is Happy Gilmore. Starring Adam Sandler in the titular role, the sports comedy follows a down-on-his-luck hockey player who, with the help of a one-handed mentor (Carl Weathers), is inspired to become the new face of professional golf. Often donning a stained hockey jersey and a stepping up to the tee with a violent, atypical swing, Happy Gilmore piques the interest of golf’s stuffiest followers while drawing a diverse, new crowd — one who is more in-tune with his sailor-mouthed, beer-guzzling antics. Also starring Julie Bowen and Christopher McDonald as Gilmore’s foil, Shooter McGavin, the sports comedy remains a resounding favorite.
Directed by frequent Sandler collaborator Dennis Dugan (who also directed Big Daddy and Grown Ups, among other Happy Madison-produced fare), the foul-mouthed farce opened to strong box office numbers back in 1996, but not unlike Sandler’s current endeavors, received unfavorable reviews. Despite being slammed by critics across the board, Happy Gilmore when on to become a cult classic, cementing itself — along with manchild gag Billy Madison, which came out one year earlier — as one of Sandler’s most celebrated comedies.
While you still may be able to recite the relentlessly quotable flick two decades after the fact, it’s time to test your knowledge of the comedy’s behind-the-scenes trivia, some of which may surprise you. Here are ten facts you may or may not know about Happy Gilmore.