Let’s be real for a second. If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or scrolled through Facebook lately, you’ve probably seen a convincing-looking poster for a Grown Ups 3 movie. Maybe it showed Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James, and David Spade looking slightly more gray-haired but still ready for a water slide. People lose their minds in the comments every single time. They want to know if it's happening. They want to know if Rob Schneider is finally coming back.
But here is the cold, hard truth: As of early 2026, Sony Pictures and Happy Madison haven't actually greenlit the thing.
It is one of those weird internet phenomena. We live in an era of endless reboots and "legacy sequels," yet the most obvious candidate for a third installment is stuck in a sort of developmental limbo. It’s not for a lack of money. Grown Ups (2010) and Grown Ups 2 (2013) were absolute monsters at the box office. They defied every single negative review from critics who claimed the movies were just an excuse for a bunch of friends to go on vacation. Well, yeah. That was exactly the point. And audiences loved it to the tune of roughly $520 million combined.
The Tom Scharpling Script That Changed Everything
You can't talk about the Grown Ups 3 movie without mentioning the "fake" script that became a legendary piece of internet lore. Back in 2020, writer and comedian Tom Scharpling did something insane. He wrote a 52-page spec script for a third movie. He didn't do it because he was hired; he did it because he was bored and clearly brilliant.
The script starts out like a typical Sandler flick—the guys are at a funeral, cracking jokes. But then it takes a hard left turn into a meta-horror thriller. It turns out they are actually on the set of Grown Ups 3, and a masked killer is picking off the cast. It went viral. People actually started reading it and realized it was unironically good. For a few weeks, the internet was convinced this was the direction the franchise was going. It wasn't, obviously. Sandler isn't exactly known for "meta-slasher" humor, but it kept the conversation alive during a year when we all needed a laugh.
Why Hasn't Adam Sandler Pulled the Trigger?
Sandler is in a different phase of his career now. Honestly, the "Sandman" has evolved. Since the last time we saw Lenny Feder and his crew, Sandler signed that massive, multi-hundred-million-dollar deal with Netflix. He’s been busy making Hustle, Leo, and Spaceman. He’s chasing Oscars and critical acclaim while still dropping the occasional Murder Mystery.
The logistics of a Grown Ups 3 movie are also a nightmare. Think about the cast.
In 2013, you could get them all together relatively easily. Now? Chris Rock is doing massive stand-up specials and directing features. Salma Hayek is in the MCU. Maya Rudolph is basically the queen of Apple TV+ and SNL cameos. David Spade and Kevin James have their own touring schedules. Getting these people in the same place for three months is an expensive, logistical headache that might not fit into the Netflix-Happy Madison pipeline.
Then there’s the emotional weight.
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Cameron Boyce, who played Sandler’s son Keithie, tragically passed away in 2019. For many fans and the cast themselves, Boyce was the heart of the "kids" side of the franchise. Sandler was incredibly close to him. Going back to that world without him feels wrong to a lot of people. It’s a huge elephant in the room that any potential script would have to address with a lot of grace, something the previous movies—which mostly focused on "farting on a cake" jokes—weren't necessarily built for.
The "Rob Schneider" Factor
Fans always ask: "Where was Rob Schneider in the second one?"
He played Marcus's (David Spade) foil and the guy with the most... eccentric family in the first movie. He skipped the sequel. Usually, the rumor mill says it was a contract dispute or a scheduling conflict with his show Rob. If a Grown Ups 3 movie ever happens, the fans have made it clear on social media that it’s all-or-nothing. You can’t leave out "Robbie." But Schneider's brand of humor and his public persona have shifted significantly over the last decade. Whether he fits back into the "Lenny Feder" friend group is a question only Sandler can answer.
What a Potential Plot Could Actually Look Like
If we ignore the Scharpling slasher script, what is the actual story?
The first movie was about the loss of a mentor (Coach Buzzer). The second was about moving back to your hometown and dealing with the "new" generation of frat boys. A third movie would almost certainly have to be about the kids being grown up.
Basically, the title Grown Ups would finally apply to the children.
We’d be looking at:
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- Lenny (Sandler) and Roxanne (Hayek) dealing with an empty nest or, more likely, kids who refuse to leave.
- Kurt (Chris Rock) finally losing his mind over his kids' technological obsession.
- Eric (Kevin James) probably still being overprotective but now dealing with his kids getting married.
- Marcus (Spade) trying to be a "cool" grandpa or older dad, which is a goldmine for his specific brand of self-deprecating humor.
It would be a "Full Circle" moment. The fans who watched the first movie in high school are now the age the parents were in the original. That’s a powerful nostalgia play.
The Reality of the "Leaked" Trailers
If you see a trailer on YouTube for Grown Ups 3: The Reunion, look closely. It’s almost always "concept" footage. These creators take clips from The Do-Over, Pixels, Hubie Halloween, and Kevin James's sitcoms, then stitch them together with a dramatic voiceover.
Don't fall for it.
Official announcements for Happy Madison projects almost always come directly from Sandler's Instagram or Netflix’s "Tudum" site. If it’s not there, it’s not real.
Is There Still a Market for This?
Critics would hate it. They would absolutely shred it. Rotton Tomatoes would probably give it a 7%.
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But nobody cares.
The Grown Ups franchise is "comfort food" cinema. It is the movie you put on when you’re folding laundry or when you’re hungover on a Sunday afternoon. There is a massive, underserved audience that just wants to see friends being funny without a complex multiverse or a political message. That is why the demand for a Grown Ups 3 movie persists despite years of silence.
What to Watch While You Wait
Since a third movie isn't hitting theaters or streaming this month, your best bet is to look at the "spiritual successors."
- Hubie Halloween: It has the same "Sandler and Friends" ensemble vibe.
- Sandy Wexler: For the deep-cut Happy Madison fans.
- The Week Of: This is actually the closest in tone to Grown Ups. It’s a grounded, surprisingly sweet story about two fathers (Sandler and Rock) dealing with their kids' wedding. It captures that "frustrations of fatherhood" energy better than almost anything else he's done.
The Next Steps for Fans
Stop checking the fake IMDB pages. If you want this movie to happen, the most effective thing you can do is keep the streaming numbers high for the first two on whatever platform currently has them (usually Netflix or Hulu depending on the month). Studios run on data. If they see Grown Ups 2 trending in the Top 10 for the fiftieth time, the conversation about a third one starts happening in the boardroom.
Keep an eye on Adam Sandler’s upcoming Netflix slate. He has a few "Untitled" projects currently in development. Until one of those is officially titled Grown Ups 3, keep your expectations in check and enjoy the classics.
Actionable Insight: Verify any movie announcement by checking the official production company social media accounts. For Grown Ups, follow Happy Madison Productions on Instagram. If they aren't posting about it, the "trailer" you saw is just a fan-made edit.