Kevin Costner Turning Down Adam Sandler’s ‘Happy Gilmore’ for a $53 Million Flop Proves His Poor Judgement Hit Him Badly Long Before Horizon Flop

Kevin Costner turned down Happy Gilmore for Tin Cup. Learn about his choice, the film’s outcomes, and the buzz surrounding Happy Gilmore 2.

Kevin Costner has given us many hits in his career such as Dances with Wolves and Field of Dreams, and even though he’s a brilliant artist, the actor is prone to occasional misjudgments. One such example is him turning down a role in Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore.

Kevin Costner in Yellowstone | Paramount Pictures

It was a film that went on to do better than the one that Costner chose over it.

Sandler’s comedic legacy was established through it, but for the Yellowstone actor, it was just a missed opportunity.

So, let’s look at which movie the star went on to do instead, its outcomes, and the return of Happy Gilmore.

Kevin Costner’s gamble with Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore did not pay off

Kevin Costner in Tin Cup | Warner Bros.

In 1996, Kevin Costner had to make a career-defining choice, which was to either join Adam Sandler on his quirky project or do a romantic comedy centered around golf.

Costner chose the latter, a movie called Tin Cup where he played a washed-up golf pro, over Happy Gilmore (via Screenrant).

However, Tin Cup earned $75.8 million globally on a $45 million budget, and its return on investment (1.7 times the budget) fell short of Happy Gilmore’s box-office success (via The Numbers).

Sandler’s film grossed $41.2 million on a modest $12 million budget, tripling its production cost and solidifying its status as a cult classic (via Business Insider).

He missed the chance to play Shooter McGavin, the film’s antagonist who is now one of the most iconic characters in the comedy genre.

Christopher McDonald was ultimately finalized for the role who had such finesse that one simply can’t imagine anyone else in the part.

Happy Gilmore 2: A nostalgic comeback

Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2 | Netflix

The trailer for Happy Gilmore 2 is here, and the buzz around it truly proves that Adam Sandler’s sports comedy has stayed in everyone’s heart for years.

In the trailer, you can see Sandler donning his signature look from the first movie and returning to the golf course with his classic swing.

The sequel seems to be a trip down memory lane but also an introduction to fresh dynamics.

We also have returning cast members like Christopher McDonald himself, and Julie Bowen.

The newest addition though is Travis Kelce, the NFL star and Taylor Swift’s beau. The teasers had hinted toward dramatic twists and turns but it’s yet to be seen if the sequel will have the same sauce as its predecessor.

With that being said, Kevin Costner’s decision to move past Happy Gilmore for Tin Cup just shows how unpredictable success can be in Hollywood.

He could’ve been a part of the sequel but perhaps it just isn’t his brand of humor.

Happy Gilmore 2 will release on Netflix in July 2025.