Principal photography on Grown Ups 3 is officially underway, with Adam Sandler and members of the original ensemble already spotted on location in New Jersey this week. The long-awaited third installment in the popular comedy franchise is heading straight to Netflix, continuing Sandler’s prolific partnership with the streaming giant.

Reports from local outlets and social media confirm that filming has begun in the Garden State. Cast and crew were seen working in the Colonia section of Woodbridge on Monday, with Sandler and Chris Rock among those recognized by residents. Production then moved to Rod’s Steak and Seafood inside The Madison Hotel in Morristown on Tuesday.

Additional shooting is planned later this month in Keansburg, including over the Labor Day weekend, according to local officials. Fans have shared accounts of the stars interacting kindly with onlookers, including taking photos with children near the set.

The project was formally announced by Netflix during its May 2026 upfronts presentation. Kyle Newacheck is directing, reuniting with Sandler after helming Happy Gilmore 2, one of the streamer’s biggest recent comedy hits, as well as the earlier Murder Mystery. Sandler is co-writing the screenplay with longtime collaborator Tim Herlihy.

The pair have written numerous projects together, including the previous Grown Ups sequel. Producers include Adam Sandler, Jackie Sandler, Jack Giarraputo, and Herlihy, with Kevin Grady and Judit Maull serving as executive producers.

The core group of childhood friends is expected to return. Adam Sandler reprises his role as Lenny Feder, alongside Kevin James as Eric Lamonsoff, Chris Rock as Kurt McKenzie, David Spade as Marcus Higgins, and Rob Schneider as Rob Hilliard.

The wives from the earlier films-Salma Hayek as Roxanne, Maya Rudolph as Deanne, and Maria Bello as Sally are also attached or widely expected to appear. Production listings indicate the full ensemble is coming back for what many describe as one more group adventure.

Plot details that have emerged describe the story picking up with the friends and their significant others after the death of a close friend. They travel to Europe to scatter his ashes while attempting to prove they can still have fun, even as they enter their sixties.

The shift to international locations marks a notable expansion from the Massachusetts settings of the first two films. In addition to New Jersey and Boston, the production is scheduled to film in Italy and France. The overall shooting window was listed as running from early July through mid-October 2026, though principal photography appears to have ramped up more visibly this week in the Northeast.

About the Movie

The original Grown Ups, released theatrically by Sony’s Columbia Pictures in 2010 and directed by Dennis Dugan, followed five former high school basketball teammates reuniting for their coach’s funeral and spending a chaotic Fourth of July weekend together with their families. It became a commercial success, grossing approximately $271 million worldwide.

The 2013 sequel, Grown Ups 2, also directed by Dugan, brought the group back to their hometown and earned roughly $247 million globally against an $80 million budget. Both films drew largely negative reviews from critics, who often criticized the broad humor and meandering plots, yet they found a dedicated audience that embraced the loose, friendship-driven comedy and the chemistry among the leads.

That audience demand has kept talk of a third film alive for years. Cast members occasionally teased the possibility in interviews, and Sandler himself expressed interest in reuniting with the group.

Netflix’s decision to greenlight the project fits the pattern of the streamer capitalizing on proven intellectual property and Sandler’s reliable draw.

Since signing his first multi-picture deal with Netflix more than a decade ago, Sandler has delivered a steady stream of original comedies and sequels that consistently rank among the platform’s most-watched titles.

No official release date has been announced. Given the filming schedule and the summer-vacation flavor of the story, industry observers have pointed to a possible 2027 debut, potentially timed for the warmer months when the earlier movies traditionally thrived.

As a Netflix original, Grown Ups 3 will bypass theaters entirely, a contrast to the wide theatrical releases of its predecessors.

The production’s early New Jersey activity has already generated local excitement and practical disruption, with residents noting equipment trucks, catering setups, and increased activity around filming sites. Newacheck’s involvement suggests a slightly different comedic sensibility than the first two films while preserving the core ensemble dynamic that defined the series.

Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions is once again at the center of the effort, ensuring continuity with the tone and style fans associate with the franchise.

For many viewers, the appeal of Grown Ups has always rested less on critical acclaim than on the simple pleasure of watching a group of longtime friends banter, bicker, and navigate family life with exaggerated, low-stakes antics. Thirteen years after the last installment, that formula is being tested again on a larger geographic canvas.

In the meantime, the cameras are rolling. Sandler and company are back together on set, turning another chapter of the long-running story of aging friends determined to stay young at heart.

Fans who have waited more than a decade for this reunion finally have confirmation that production is no longer just talk-it is happening in real time on the streets and in the hotels of New Jersey, with more locations still to come.