Full Breakdown
Netflix Announces Development of Grown Ups 3
5/14/2026, 12:59:07 AM
Grown Ups 3 Greenlit for Netflix
Netflix announced at its May 13 Upfront in New York that a third Grown Ups film is in development. Kyle Newacheck, director of Netflix’s *Happy Gilmore 2*, will helm the project. Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy are credited as writers.
Franchise History and Netflix Deal
The original *Grown Ups* (2010) grossed $272 million worldwide; its sequel (2013) added $247 million, for a combined $519 million. Sandler’s decade-long Netflix deal has produced over ten titles, including the streaming record-breaker *Happy Gilmore 2* with 2.89 billion minutes viewed in its first week.
Creative Team and Casting Outlook
Newacheck, known for *Workaholics* and *Murder Mystery*, will direct. Sandler, Herlihy, Jackie Sandler and Jack Giarraputo will produce. While no official cast list exists, reports suggest the core five—Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider—are likely to return, with Salma Hayek’s participation uncertain.
Box Office and Streaming Performance
*Grown Ups 2* earned $247 million on an $80 million budget and holds an 8 % Rotten Tomatoes rating. *Happy Gilmore 2* set Netflix’s largest U.S. opening for a film, reinforcing the franchise’s commercial appeal for the platform’s 200 million-plus subscriber base.
Official Statements
Netflix described the sequel as a tent-pole comedy that will reunite the friends while showing how their lives have changed. Sandler’s team highlighted the “long-standing creative synergy” and the chance to add “new twists” for a global audience.
Critical Reception of Prior Installment
*Grown Ups 2* was panned by critics, with TheWrap’s Alonso Duralde calling its humor “asinine, immature, offensive to women and to almost everyone else on the planet.” Its 8 % Rotten Tomatoes score reflects the negative reception.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reports differ on cast participation: some say the full original ensemble, including Hayek, will return; others say the lineup remains undecided. Plot details also vary, with rumors of a European ash-spreading trip versus a summer-camp setting. No release date has been set.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This throws it open,” — Tim Herlihy, Co-writer
- “I had the best time making both those movies, but we don’t know what the hell is happening quite yet.” — Adam Sandler, Actor
- “there’s always been talk about Grown Ups 3” — Dennis Dugan, Director
- “The boys are back, but their lives have taken new twists. This time, the stakes are higher, the laughs are bigger, and the heart is deeper than ever before.” — Netflix Official Statement, May 13 2026
What’s Next
Production is rumored to begin in summer 2026, potentially across several countries. Netflix has not announced a streaming release window, but plans to market the film as a flagship comedy for its 2026-2027 slate.
