Grown Ups 3 Is Official — Netflix Just Confirmed the Gang Is Back

Grown Ups 3 Is Official — Netflix Just Confirmed the Gang Is Back and We're Not Ready Let's get chocolate wasted — because it's actually happening. After months of whispers and internet speculation, Netflix has officially confirmed that a third installment of the hit comedy franchise Grown Ups is in development for the streamer. The news dropped today, May 13, 2026, during the 2026 Netflix Upfronts presentation in New York City — and the internet immediately lost its mind. StockPilStockPil For fans who grew up watching Lenny Feder and his childhood buddies navigate the hilarious chaos of adult life, this is the announcement they've been waiting over a decade for. And for Digital8Hub, this is the entertainment story of the week. Here's absolutely everything you need to know. The Official Confirmation The Adam Sandler threequel has long been rumored, with cast members David Spade and Kevin James teasing that the project was in the works. But this announcement marks the first time Netflix has officially acknowledged the project's status. TechCrunch Kevin James had previously hinted, "I think it's happening — something's happening," when asked about the film. Now "something" has a name, a director, and a script in progress. Axios The Grown Ups franchise revolves around a set of childhood friends who are brought back together as adults over the course of a summer vacation. Both prior Grown Ups films were released theatrically by Sony's Columbia Pictures — the first in summer 2010 did around $272 million worldwide, with 2013's Grown Ups 2 grossing around $247 million. This time around, Netflix is the natural destination for the next film in the series, given that Sandler has been under a production deal with Netflix for over a decade, resulting in 10+ films and other projects. CNN + 2 Who's Coming Back? In addition to Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, and Kevin James are set to return for the threequel. CNN The full women's crew is also reportedly back. Alongside Sandler, we have Kevin James, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Maya Rudolph, Maria Bello, and David Spade reprising their respective characters. CNBC Salma Hayek plays Roxanne Chase-Feder, Lenny's wife; Maya Rudolph portrays Deanne McKenzie, Kurt's wife; and Maria Bello plays Sally Lamonsoff, Eric's wife. CNBC The gang is virtually intact — and for fans of the franchise, seeing all five core guys plus the original wives back together is going to feel like a proper reunion. Who's Directing and Writing? Grown Ups 3 will be directed by Kyle Newacheck, who helmed the Sandler-Netflix projects Murder Mystery and Happy Gilmore 2. Sandler is co-writing the script with Tim Herlihy. TechCrunch Newacheck's Happy Gilmore 2 credentials alone make this an exciting hire. Happy Gilmore 2 was one of the biggest streaming titles of last year, setting a Nielsen record with 2.89 billion minutes viewed in its first week. If Newacheck can bottle that same magic for Grown Ups 3, Netflix could be looking at its next blockbuster comedy event. CNN Sandler produces alongside Jackie Sandler, Jack Giarraputo, and Herlihy, with Kevin Grady and Judit Maull serving as executive producers. TechCrunch What's the Plot? Netflix hasn't officially revealed the storyline, but the rumor mill has been generous. The most recent rumors suggest a massive change of scenery for the crew. According to those rumors, the tentative logline for the film is: "The Feders return after Lenny inherits his childhood summer camp." StockPil When a surprise inheritance lands Lenny Feder, Eric Lamonsoff, Kurt McKenzie, Marcus Higgins, and Rob Hilliard in control of their childhood summer camp, they reunite for one last hurrah. Bloomberg Summer camp chaos, adult responsibilities, childhood nostalgia, and probably at least one scene involving a deer urinating on someone — that's the Grown Ups formula, and nobody's complaining. Filming is reportedly set to take place across multiple countries, which would be a massive leap in scale compared to the New England-bound settings of the first two films. Principal photography will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia, between July 6 and October 14, 2026. StockPilCNBC The Sandler-Netflix Empire It's impossible to talk about Grown Ups 3 without putting it in the context of what Adam Sandler has built with Netflix — arguably one of the most successful creative partnerships in streaming history. In 2021, Sandler signed a new four-movie deal with Netflix worth over $250 million. Under that deal, he has delivered hits ranging from the family-friendly animated Leo to the nostalgia-driven Happy Gilmore 2 and murder mystery comedies with Jennifer Aniston. TechCrunch This film marks the latest project in Sandler's decade-long partnership with Netflix. Under his pact with the streamer, which has been renewed multiple times, Sandler has made streaming movies like Leo, Murder Mystery, and Hubie Halloween, plus legacy sequels to his classic films like Happy Gilmore 2. TechCrunch Grown Ups 3 fits perfectly into that strategy — mining beloved IP from Sandler's theatrical prime and reinventing it for a streaming generation. Critics vs. Fans: Does It Matter? Let's be honest about the franchise's critical history. Both films were savagely panned by critics — Grown Ups earning just 10% and Grown Ups 2 just 8% on Rotten Tomatoes — yet they became fan favorites, with audiences still hoping to see the gang return. Bloomberg Grown Ups was never made for critics. It was made for the people who want to laugh for 90 minutes without thinking too hard — and for that audience, it delivered every single time. In an era of prestige dramas and algorithm-driven content, there's something genuinely refreshing about a movie that just wants you to have fun. With Happy Gilmore 2 proving that Sandler's nostalgia formula still hits enormous numbers on Netflix, the timing for Grown Ups 3 couldn't be better. When Can We Watch It? No official release date has been announced yet, but filming is set to run from July through October 2026, putting a late 2027 release well within reach, with a potential holiday 2026 or early 2027 window possible if post-production moves quickly. Bloomberg One thing is certain: when Grown Ups 3 drops on Netflix, it's going to break records. The fan base is hungry, the cast is legendary, and the Sandler-Netflix machine has never been more powerful. Keep it locked to Digital8Hub for all the latest casting news, trailer drops, and release date updates as Grown Ups 3 moves through production.