Grown Ups 2 Filmed in Swampscott and Marblehead, Massachusetts; Sequel Hints Emerge in 2025
When Happy Madison Productions rolled into Swampscott, Massachusetts in May 2012, locals didn’t just see a movie set—they saw their backyard turned into a comedy spectacle. The film, Grown Ups 2, shot from May 2 to July 15, 2012, used the quiet coastal town as the stand-in for fictional Stanton, Connecticut, and it wasn’t just Swampscott. Marblehead, Saugus, Tewksbury, and Tyngsborough all became part of the chaos, with one production rep telling Patch that "about half the movie" was filmed in Marblehead. The result? A $247 million box office hit that critics hated but families loved.
The Town That Became Stanton
It’s easy to miss the magic if you’re driving through Swampscott today. But walk down Aspen Road in late spring 2012, and you’d have seen a massive lake set up with picnic tables, inflatable slides, and a dozen grown men in swim trunks pretending to be 12-year-olds again. That was Adam Sandler as Lenny Feder, the dad who moves his family back to his childhood stomping grounds. The scene where a deer wanders into a house? That was filmed at 204 Ocean Ave, Marblehead. The iconic ice cream truck stop? Built from scratch at the Marblehead Youth Baseball Park on Lafayette Street.Local residents didn’t just watch—they participated. Some were extras. Others sold coffee to crew members. One woman told Wicked Local she’d never seen so many trucks lined up on her street. "It felt like a holiday," she said. "But with more cameras than Christmas lights."
Behind the Scenes: A Massachusetts Film Boom
The Massachusetts Film Office had been quietly promoting the state as a filming destination for years, and Grown Ups 2 was a poster child for its success. The state offered tax incentives that made it cheaper than shooting in California. Eight towns across eastern Massachusetts were listed in the official production database, from Carlisle to Westford. The crew even built a full-scale summer camp set in Essex—a detail most audiences never noticed.Behind the scenes, Adam Sandler co-wrote the script with Tim Herlihy and Fred Wolf, and cast his longtime ensemble: Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Salma Hayek, and Maria Bello. The chemistry was real—many had worked together since Happy Gilmore in 1996.
Critical Flop, Box Office King
Critics didn’t hold back. Rolling Stone called it "a wet blanket of slapstick." The New York Times wrote that "the humor feels recycled, like last year’s beach towels." But audiences? They showed up. In droves.With an $80 million budget, Grown Ups 2 made $247 million globally. It didn’t win awards—it was nominated for nine Golden Raspberry Awards in 2014, including Worst Picture and Worst Actor for Sandler. Yet, he walked away with the Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor. That’s the disconnect: critics saw a mess. Families saw a reunion.
Swampscott Remembers—And Still Shows Movies
The town never forgot. Every Thursday night in summer, Swampscott hosts free outdoor movie nights on the Town Hall Lawn. This year, on August 14, 2025, they’ll screen The Wild Robot at 6:30 p.m. Food trucks, lawn chairs, and kids running around with glow sticks—it’s become a tradition. Locals still point to Aspen Road and say, "That’s where Sandler fell in the lake.""We get tourists now," says Mayor Mary O’Donnell. "Not many, but enough. One family came from Ohio just to see the ice cream truck spot. We told them it’s gone now. They still took a picture."
A Sequel? Maybe. Maybe Not.
In July 2025, while promoting Happy Gilmore 2, Sandler dropped a bombshell: "If we find a story worth telling… we might go back." Rob Schneider, who didn’t appear in Grown Ups 2, confirmed he’s eager to return. "I miss those guys," he said. "And I miss the smell of pine trees and bad jokes." Reports suggest filming could begin in Vancouver, British Columbia in February 2026—far from Massachusetts. But fans still hope the sequel returns to New England. After all, the original magic wasn’t just in the script. It was in the soil.Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Swampscott chosen as a filming location for Grown Ups 2?
Swampscott was selected for its quintessential New England aesthetic—tree-lined streets, lakeside properties, and historic homes that matched the fictional Stanton, Connecticut. The town’s compact size made logistics easier, and Massachusetts’ tax incentives made it financially attractive. Local officials also cooperated with production, allowing road closures and set construction without excessive red tape.
What specific locations in Swampscott and Marblehead were used in the film?
Aspen Road in Swampscott served as the lakeside reunion site, while the deer-in-the-house scene was filmed at 204 Ocean Ave in Marblehead. The iconic ice cream truck stop was a custom-built set at the Marblehead Youth Baseball Park on Lafayette Street. Additional scenes were shot in Saugus, Tewksbury, and Tyngsborough, with the Massachusetts Film Office confirming all eight locations.
Did the film boost tourism in Swampscott and Marblehead?
Yes, modestly. While no official tourism spike was tracked, local businesses reported increased interest in "movie location" tours. The town’s annual movie nights now draw crowds who ask about the film, and social media tags like #GrownUpsSwampscott still appear during summer. One local gift shop even sold "I Survived the Grown Ups 2 Lake" T-shirts for a few years.
Why did Grown Ups 2 earn so many Razzie nominations despite its box office success?
Critics found the film’s humor juvenile, repetitive, and reliant on crude gags rather than character development. Its 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes reflected widespread disdain. But audiences—particularly families—responded to the nostalgia and ensemble chemistry. The Razzies often target mainstream hits that critics despise, making Grown Ups 2 a classic example of the divide between public taste and critical opinion.
Is there a confirmed release date for Grown Ups 3?
No official greenlight exists. Adam Sandler has only hinted at a possible sequel in July 2025, pending a strong story. Rob Schneider has expressed interest, and filming is rumored to start in Vancouver in February 2026—but nothing is confirmed. Until Sony or Happy Madison announces a script or budget, it remains speculative.
How did the Massachusetts Film Office benefit from Grown Ups 2?
The production injected millions into local economies through wages, rentals, and vendor contracts. It also served as high-profile proof that Massachusetts could handle large-scale comedies, encouraging future productions like Manchester by the Sea and Black Mass to consider the state. The Film Office now lists Grown Ups 2 as a flagship example in its promotional materials.
