For over a decade, fans have joked about Adam Sandler’s ultimate Hollywood life hack: choose a beautiful location, invite your real-life best friends, turn the vacation into a movie, and get a major studio to foot the bill. Well, the genius strategy is back in action. More than 13 years after the second film hit theaters, Netflix has officially greenlit and started filming Grown Ups 3.
The highly anticipated threequel is currently wrapping up production, promising to bring back the nostalgic, chocolate-wasted energy that made the first two films absolute comfort-watch classics.
Here is your exclusive first look at the plot, the massive returning cast, and when it will finally drop on your screens.
The Plot: The “Ultimate Adventure” Goes International
The original Grown Ups films focused on family chaos, middle-aged mischief, and hanging out at a classic lake house. This time, the stakes—and the scale—are much bigger.
According to the official Netflix Tudum logline: “Now that their kids are all grown up, the gang is finally free to go on the ultimate adventure.”
With their children finally leaving the nest, Lenny Feder and his friends embark on a massive European vacation. Production initially kicked off in August 2026 across New Jersey (including the Keansburg Boardwalk) before moving overseas to Turin, Italy, which is being used as a glamorous stand-in for Paris, France.
The Cast: The Original Core Five Reunite
The absolute best news for fans is that the entire original core group is returning. While previous rumors left some casting in doubt, Netflix’s official announcement confirmed the full squad is back together for the first time since 2010:
- The Main Core: Adam Sandler (Lenny), Kevin James (Eric), Chris Rock (Kurt), David Spade (Marcus), and Rob Schneider (Rob).
- The Wives: Salma Hayek Pinault (Roxanne), Maya Rudolph (Deanne), and Maria Bello (Sally).
- Familiar Favorites: Happy Madison regulars like Shaquille O’Neal, Nick Swardson, Colin Quinn, and Tim Meadows are all reprising their hilarious side roles.
New Faces Joining the Chaos:
The franchise is adding some incredible fresh talent, including Julie Bowen (fresh off her appearance in Happy Gilmore 2), comedian Deon Cole, and Bailee Madison. Sandler’s real-life daughters, Sunny and Sadie Sandler, will also make appearances.
Behind the camera, Dennis Dugan has passed the torch to Kyle Newacheck (who just directed Happy Gilmore 2), directing from a script written by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy.
Release Date: When Is It Coming to Netflix?
While Netflix has not officially locked in a specific calendar date, we have a very clear release window thanks to a recent update.
Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Chris Rock let it slip that Grown Ups 3 is targeting a Summer 2027 release on Netflix. With filming wrapping up in late October 2026, the timeline gives the studio plenty of room for post-production to make it the biggest streaming comedy event of 2027.
