From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Happy Madison Productions
Media production company
Summary
Media production company
| Field | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| name | Happy Madison Productions, Inc. | ||
| logo | [[File:Happy Madison Productions logo.svg | frameless | class=skin-invert]] |
| logo_caption | Logo used since 2005 | ||
| type | Private | ||
| industry | {{Plainlist | ||
| foundation | |||
| founder | Adam Sandler | ||
| location | {{Plainlist | ||
| key_people | {{Plainlist | ||
| divisions | Madison 23 Productions (2007–2009) | ||
| Scary Madison Productions (2009) | |||
| Meatball Productions (2002) | |||
| parent | Happy Madison, Inc. |
- Film production
- Television production
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. (parent company)
- Adam Sandler (CEO)
- Allen Covert
- Jack Giarraputo (president)
- Tim Herlihy
- Heather Parry
- Scott Sandler
- Barry Bernardi
- Steve Koren
- Mark O'Keefe
- Seth Gordon
- Timothy Dowling Scary Madison Productions (2009) Meatball Productions (2002)
Happy Madison Productions, Inc. is an American independent film and television production company founded in 1999 by Adam Sandler, which is best known for its comedy films. The company is named after the films Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison, both starring Sandler himself, produced by Robert Simonds, written by Sandler and Tim Herlihy, and distributed by Universal Pictures.
In addition to various Sandler-produced films, the company has also released films produced by others, such as Steven Brill, Dennis Dugan, Frank Coraci, Fred Wolf, Tom Brady, Peter Segal, Nicholaus Goossen, and Tyler Spindel.
The 1998 films The Waterboy and The Wedding Singer helped jump start Sandler's movie career and production company. He produced The Waterboy and co-wrote the script with Tim Herlihy. The film was extremely profitable, earning over $160 million in the United States alone and made Sandler a successful actor with The Waterboy becoming his second $100 million film in a year, along with The Wedding Singer.
The company's production offices were formerly located in the Judy Garland Building on the Sony Pictures Studios lot in Culver City, but the company left after completion of Sandler's final contracted film for the studio, Pixels. Happy Madison, Inc., the parent company of Happy Madison Productions, is run by Adam Sandler's brother Scott, and is located in Manchester, New Hampshire.
In 2002, the company expanded its operations onto television with a pilot commitment at The WB. After fifteen years, head Doug Robinson left the company to start his own company with a deal at Sony Pictures Television.
The company also had a short-lived subsidiary called Madison 23 Productions, which was aimed at the drama genre. It only produced two films: Reign Over Me and Funny People, both of which starred Sandler. Another subsidiary was Scary Madison Productions, which was aimed at the horror genre and only produced the film The Shortcut.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Budget | Gross | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (worldwide) | Notes | Ref. | ||||||||||
| 1999 | Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo | Mike Mitchell | $20 million | $120.9 million | with Out of the Blue... Entertainment and Touchstone Pictures; distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution | |||||||
| 2000 | Little Nicky | Steven Brill | $85 million | $58.3 million | with The Robert Simonds Company; distributed by New Line Cinema | |||||||
| 2001 | Joe Dirt | Dennie Gordon | $17.7 million | $31 million | with Robert Simonds Productions and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | |||||||
| The Animal | Luke Greenfield | $47 million | $84.8 million | with Revolution Studios and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| 2002 | Mr. Deeds | Steven Brill | $50 million | $192.3 million | with Out of the Blue... Entertainment, New Line Cinema, and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | |||||||
| The Master of Disguise | Perry Andelin Blake | $16 million | $43.4 million | with Revolution Studios, Out of the Blue Entertainment and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| Eight Crazy Nights | Seth Kearsley | $34 million | $23.8 million | with Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| The Hot Chick | Tom Brady | $34 million | $54.6 million | with Touchstone Pictures; distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution | ||||||||
| 2003 | Anger Management | Peter Segal | $75 million | $236.7 million | with Revolution Studios and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | |||||||
| Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star | Sam Weisman | $17 million | $23.8 million | distributed by Paramount Pictures | ||||||||
| 2004 | 50 First Dates | Peter Segal | $80 million | $265.5 million | with Flower Films, Anonymous Content, and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | |||||||
| 2005 | The Longest Yard | $90 million | $194.5 million | with Callahan Filmworks, MTV Films, Paramount Pictures, and Columbia Pictures; distributed in USA and Canada by Paramount Pictures and internationally by Sony Pictures Releasing (via Sony Pictures Releasing International) | ||||||||
| Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo | Mike Bigelow | $22 million | $45.1 million | with Out of the Blue... Entertainment and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| 2006 | Grandma's Boy | Nicholaus Goossen | $5 million | $6.6 million | with Level 1 Entertainment; distributed in USA and Canada by 20th Century Fox and internationally by Summit Entertainment | |||||||
| The Benchwarmers | Dennis Dugan | $33 million | $65 million | with Revolution Studios and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| Click | Frank Coraci | $85 million | $268.7 million | with Original Film, Revolution Studios, and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| 2007 | Reign Over Me | Mike Binder | $20 million | $22.2 million | with Sunlight Productions, Relativity Media, and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | |||||||
| I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry | Dennis Dugan | $85 million | $190.1 million | with Shady Acres Entertainment and Relativity Media; distributed by Universal Pictures | ||||||||
| 2008 | Strange Wilderness | Fred Wolf | $20 million | $6.9 million | with Level 1 Entertainment; distributed by Paramount Pictures | |||||||
| You Don't Mess with the Zohan | Dennis Dugan | $90 million | $217.3 million | with Smigel/Dugan Productions, Relativity Media, and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| The House Bunny | Fred Wolf | $25 million | $70.4 million | with Alta Loma Entertainment, Relativity Media, and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| Bedtime Stories | Adam Shankman | $80 million | $224.9 million | with Gunn Films, Conman & Izzy Productions, Offspring Entertainment, and Walt Disney Pictures; distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | ||||||||
| 2009 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop | Steve Carr | $26 million | $186.3 million | with Relativity Media and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | |||||||
| Funny People | Judd Apatow | $75 million | $71.6 million | with Apatow Productions, Relativity Media, Universal Pictures, and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Universal Pictures | ||||||||
| The Shortcut | Nicholaus Goossen | $1 million | as Scary Madison Productions; with Leomax; distributed by Leomax and Mind's Eye Entertainment | |||||||||
| 2010 | Grown Ups | Dennis Dugan | $80 million | $291.4 million | with Relativity Media and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | |||||||
| 2011 | Just Go with It | $80 million | $253.2 million | with Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| Zookeeper | Frank Coraci | $80 million | $172.8 million | with Broken Road Productions, Hey Eddie Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star | Tom Brady | $10 million | $2.5 million | with Miles Deep Productions and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| Jack and Jill | Dennis Dugan | $80 million | $179.6 million | with Broken Road Productions and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| 2012 | That's My Boy | Sean Anders | $70 million | $57.7 million | with Relativity Media and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | |||||||
| Here Comes the Boom | Frank Coraci | $42 million | $73.1 million | with Broken Road Productions, Hey Eddie Productions, and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| 2013 | Grown Ups 2 | Dennis Dugan | $80 million | $277.4 million | with Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | |||||||
| 2014 | Blended | Frank Coraci | $40 million | $136 million | with Gulfstream Pictures and RatPac-Dune Entertainment; distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures | |||||||
| 2015 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 | Andy Fickman | $30 million | $127.6 million | with Broken Road Productions, Hey Eddie Productions, LStar Capital, and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | |||||||
| Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser | Fred Wolf | $3.7 million | distributed by Crackle (through Sony Pictures Releasing) | |||||||||
| Pixels | Chris Columbus | $120 million | $245.1 million | with 1492 Pictures, LStar Capital, China Film Group Corporation, Film Croppers Entertainment, and Columbia Pictures; distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing | ||||||||
| The Ridiculous 6 | Frank Coraci | $60 million | distributed by Netflix | |||||||||
| 2016 | The Do-Over | Steven Brill | $40 million | |||||||||
| 2017 | Sandy Wexler | $24.3 million | ||||||||||
| 2018 | The Week Of | Robert Smigel | ||||||||||
| Father of the Year | Tyler Spindel | |||||||||||
| 2019 | Murder Mystery | Kyle Newacheck | with Vinson Films, Endgame Entertainment, Mythology Entertainment, Denver and Delilah Productions, and Tower Hill Entertainment; distributed by Netflix | |||||||||
| 2020 | The Wrong Missy | Tyler Spindel | distributed by Netflix | |||||||||
| Hubie Halloween | Steven Brill | $14 million | ||||||||||
| 2022 | Home Team | Charles Kinnane | ||||||||||
| Daniel Kinnane | with Hey Eddie Productions; distributed by Netflix | |||||||||||
| Hustle | Jeremiah Zagar | $21 million | with Roth/Kirschenbaum Films and SpringHill Company; distributed by Netflix | |||||||||
| 2023 | Murder Mystery 2 | Jeremy Garelick | with Echo Films, Mythology Entertainment, Vinson Films, and Endgame Entertainment; distributed by Netflix | |||||||||
| The Out-Laws | Tyler Spindel | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-out-laws-review-adam-devine-pierce-brosnan-netflix-1235529998/ | title='The Out-Laws' Review: Adam Devine and Pierce Brosnan in an Uninspired Netflix Crime Comedy | last=Mintzer | first=Jordan | work=The Hollywood Reporter | date=July 7, 2023 | access-date=March 16, 2024}} | distributed by Netflix | |||
| You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah | Sammi Cohen | with Alloy Entertainment; distributed by Netflix | ||||||||||
| Leo | Robert Smigel | |||||||||||
| Robert Marianetti | ||||||||||||
| David Wachtenheim | with Netflix Animation; distributed by Netflix | |||||||||||
| 2025 | Kinda Pregnant | Tyler Spindel | with Saks Picture Company and Something Happy Productions; distributed by Netflix | |||||||||
| Happy Gilmore 2 | Kyle Newacheck | $152.5 million | with Pro Shop Studios; distributed by Netflix | |||||||||
| 2026 | Don't Say Good Luck | Julia Hart | with Original Headquarters; distributed by Netflix | |||||||||
| TBA | Dad Camp | TBA | with 21 Laps Entertainment; distributed by Netflix | |||||||||
| Roommates | Chandler Levack | distributed by Netflix |
Stand-up specials
| Year | Title | Director | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh | Steven Brill | co-production with Netflix | |
| 2024 | Adam Sandler: Love You | Josh Safdie | co-production with Irwin Entertainment and Netflix |
Television
| Year | Title | Network | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–2013 | Rules of Engagement | CBS | with Game Six Productions, CBS Television Studios, and Sony Pictures Television | |
| 2008 | The Gong Show with Dave Attell | Comedy Central | with GOLDer Productions and Sony Pictures Television | |
| 2010–2011 | Nick Swardson's Pretend Time | with Culver Entertainment | ||
| 2011–2012 | Breaking In | Fox | with Adam F. Goldberg Productions and Sony Pictures Television | |
| 2013–2023 | The Goldbergs | ABC | co-production with Adam F. Goldberg Productions (seasons 1–8), Doug Robinson Productions (seasons 5–10), Swinging Cricket Productions (season 9), Script L. Shannon, Inc. (season 9), This Episode is Entirely a Work of Fiction, LLC (season 10), and Sony Pictures Television | |
| 2017 | Imaginary Mary | co-production with Adam F. Goldberg Productions, ABC Studios, and Sony Pictures Television | ||
| 2019–2020 | Schooled | co-production with Adam F. Goldberg Productions, Marc Firek Productions, Doug Robinson Productions, ABC Studios, and Sony Pictures Television |
Critical reception
Happy Madison's films have, for the most part, received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with most criticism targeted towards the crude humor, excessive product placement, celebrity cameos, and sentimental endings that contradict the mostly mean-spirited tones of the films. Some drama films (Reign Over Me, Funny People, Hustle and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah) received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, with Sandler's performance garnering critical praise. The company has put out four films considered to be some of the worst ever made, while two other films have received a 0% score from Rotten Tomatoes.**
| Year | Film | Rotten | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Metacritic | ||
| 1999 | Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo | 23% | 30 |
| 2000 | Little Nicky | 22% | 38 |
| 2001 | Joe Dirt | 11% | 20 |
| 2001 | The Animal | 30% | 43 |
| 2002 | Mr. Deeds | 22% | 24 |
| 2002 | The Master of Disguise | 1% | 12 |
| 2002 | Eight Crazy Nights | 13% | 23 |
| 2002 | The Hot Chick | 22% | 29 |
| 2003 | Anger Management | 42% | 52 |
| 2003 | Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star | 22% | 36 |
| 2004 | 50 First Dates | 45% | 48 |
| 2005 | The Longest Yard | 31% | 48 |
| 2005 | Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo | 9% | 23 |
| 2006 | Grandma's Boy | 16% | 33 |
| 2006 | The Benchwarmers | 13% | 25 |
| 2006 | Click | 34% | 45 |
| 2007 | Reign Over Me | 64% | 61 |
| 2007 | I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry | 15% | 37 |
| 2008 | Strange Wilderness | 2% | 12 |
| 2008 | You Don't Mess with the Zohan | 38% | 54 |
| 2008 | The House Bunny | 43% | 55 |
| 2008 | Bedtime Stories | 27% | 33 |
| 2009 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop | 34% | 39 |
| 2009 | Funny People | 69% | 60 |
| 2009 | The Shortcut | N/A | N/A |
| 2010 | Grown Ups | 10% | 30 |
| 2011 | Just Go with It | 19% | 33 |
| 2011 | Zookeeper | 13% | 30 |
| 2011 | Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star | 3% | 9 |
| 2011 | Jack and Jill | 3% | 23 |
| 2012 | That's My Boy | 20% | 31 |
| 2012 | Here Comes the Boom | 40% | 40 |
| 2013 | Grown Ups 2 | 7% | 19 |
| 2014 | Blended | 14% | 31 |
| 2015 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 | 5% | 14 |
| 2015 | Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser | 10% | N/A |
| 2015 | Pixels | 17% | 27 |
| 2015 | The Ridiculous 6 | 0% | 18 |
| 2016 | The Do-Over | 10% | 22 |
| 2017 | Sandy Wexler | 27% | 39 |
| 2018 | The Week Of | 27% | 41 |
| 2018 | Father of the Year | 0% | N/A |
| 2018 | Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh | 90% | N/A |
| 2019 | Murder Mystery | 45% | 38 |
| 2020 | The Wrong Missy | 31% | 35 |
| 2020 | Hubie Halloween | 52% | 53 |
| 2022 | Home Team | 22% | 23 |
| 2022 | Hustle | 92% | 68 |
| 2023 | Murder Mystery 2 | 44% | 44 |
| 2023 | The Out-Laws | 21% | 36 |
| 2023 | You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah | 91% | 71 |
| 2023 | Leo | 84% | 65 |
| 2025 | Kinda Pregnant | 29% | 38 |
| 2025 | Happy Gilmore 2 | 62% | 52 |
References
References
- (13 October 2013). "Adam Sandler".
- (2018-10-16). "100% Fresh Trailer Teases Adam Sandler's Netflix Variety Special".
- Locke, Taylor. (2019-12-07). "Adam Sandler on being fired from 'Saturday Night Live' in 1995 before achieving massive success".
- "New Hampshire Secretary of State Corporate Information for Happy Madison, Inc.".
- Schneider, Michael. (2002-10-04). "Frog leaps on laffer from Sandler shingle".
- Otterson, Joe. (2017-07-17). "Doug Robinson Leaves Happy Madison for Overall Deal at Sony TV, Launches New Production Company".
- (7 December 2011). "Grown Ups Sequel Planned". [[ComingSoon.net]].
- (April 24, 2013). "Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore Comedy Blended Set For May 23, 2014". ComingSoon.net.
- "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Set for April 17, 2015". ComingSoon.net.
- (11 October 2014). "David Spade is Back for Joe Dirt 2!". Comingsoon.net.
- (November 10, 2010). "Look out, Adam Sandler! It's Donkey Kong's Space Invading Frogger!". [[Entertainment Weekly]].
- N'Duka, Amanda. (3 May 2017). "David Spade, Bridgit Mendler, Nat Faxon, & More Co-Star In 'Who Do You Think Would Win?' For Netflix".
- Vlessing, Etan. (10 January 2019). "New David Spade-Starring, Adam Sandler-Produced Netflix Movie Finds Director".
- (25 October 2022). "Hubie Halloween (2020)". Screenrant.
- (2021-05-06). "Adam Sandler's Next Netflix Movie Can Break Happy Madison's Losing Streak".
- Galuppo, Mia. (24 January 2022). "Jodie Turner-Smith, Mark Strong Join Netflix's 'Murder Mystery 2'".
- Mintzer, Jordan. (July 7, 2023). "'The Out-Laws' Review: Adam Devine and Pierce Brosnan in an Uninspired Netflix Crime Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter.
- Kroll, Justin. (12 July 2021). "Pierce Brosnan Joins Adam Devine in Netflix's Action-Comedy 'The Out-Laws'; Tyler Spindel To Direct".
- Grobar, Matt. (July 13, 2022). "Adam Sandler, Idina Menzel & 'SNL's Sarah Sherman Among Cast Set For Netflix's YA Comedy 'You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah'; Happy Madison & Alloy Entertainment Producing".
- Moore, Kasey. (January 18, 2023). "Netflix Picks Up Adam Sandler Animated Movie 'Leo'; Releases in November 2023".
- Grobar, Matt. (November 30, 2023). "Amy Schumer To Produce & Star In 'Kinda Pregnant' Comedy For Netflix, Happy Madison".
- (December 16, 2024). "Amy Schumer Makes Her 'Return to Movies' as fake mom-to-be in Kinda Pregnant: See First Look".
- (August 19, 2025). "'Happy Gilmore 2' Spends Record-Breaking $152M in NJ during Production".
- Harrison, Scoop. (September 9, 2024). "Happy Gilmore 2 Officially Begins Production, Adam Sandler Reveals".
- Grobar, Matt. (August 22, 2025). "Kevin Jakubowski Adapting Evan S. Porter’s Debut Novel ‘Dad Camp’ For Netflix; 21 Laps & Happy Madison To Produce". Deadline Hollywood.
- Alliance, Morris County Economic Development. (June 25, 2025). "Adam Sandler Is Making Another Movie in NJ With His Daughter!".
- Mitra, Soma. (July 12, 2025). "What Is 'Roommates' on Netflix? Everything You Need to Know About the New Comedy Drop".
- Grobar, Matt. (August 7, 2024). "Netflix Unveils Premiere Date, Trailer For Adam Sandler's Comedy Special 'Love You' Directed By Josh Safdie".
- Andreeva, Nellie. (May 12, 2016). "Drama 'Notorious', Comedy 'Imaginary Mary' Picked Up To Series At ABC". Deadline.
- (2011-11-14). "The tragedy of Adam Sandler". [[Salon (magazine).
- (2012-04-30). "Comedy about middle school statutory rape? Does Adam Sandler's ''That's My Boy'' go too far?". Fox News.
- (2012-05-21). "Is Adam Sandler Serious With That's My Boy? | DrJays.com Live | Fashion. Music. Lifestyle". Live.drjays.com.
- (2 May 2012). "Adam Sandler's new movie ''That's My Boy'' exploits child victims of sexual assault. Please boycott the movie. | National Coalition For Men". NCFM.
Wikipedia Source
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Happy Madison Productions — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up free
Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report