The Hawk Will Ferrell review: Netflix golf comedy flops
Critics agree: The Hawk Will Ferrell Netflix golf comedy isn't that funny. The 10-episode series premiered July 16 to pans calling it dated, hollow, and forgettable despite a stacked cast including Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Luke Wilson, and Fortune Feimster. Created by Harper Steele, Chris Henchy, and Ferrell, the show follows washed-up golfer Lonnie "The Hawk" Hawkins as he chases a comeback—and, for many viewers hunting streaming TV alerts, the verdict is a miss.
Key Takeaways
- The Hawk premiered on Netflix on July 16, 2026, as a 10-episode golf comedy.
- Will Ferrell stars as Lonnie Hawkins opposite Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Luke Wilson, and Fortune Feimster.
- The Guardian and The Hollywood Reporter both argue the series is dated and barely funny.
- PGA Tour Studios produced the show, with the finale filmed at the Resort at Pelican Hill.
- Critics say a stacked supporting cast is largely wasted on a generic script.
What is The Hawk Will Ferrell series about?
Ferrell plays Lonnie "The Hawk" Hawkins, once among the world's top golfers, now stuck on the Korn-Ferry Tour after years without making a cut. He travels by tour bus with caddy Old Henry (Keith David), who dies early—prompting callous behavior and a new caddie in Fortune Feimster's Sam.
After a return to form, Lonnie competes against his son Lance (Jimmy Tatro) and longtime rival Golden Fisk (Luke Wilson) at the U.S. Open. Estranged wife Stacy (Molly Shannon) is furious and foul-mouthed, hawking a canned cocktail called Teed Off while following Lance on tour.
Why are critics saying The Hawk isn't funny?
In The Guardian's review, the series is framed as Frat Pack nostalgia that no longer lands: endless gay jokes, genital gags, stretched comic riffs, and songs like Chamillionaire's "Ridin'" and Sisqó's "Thong Song." Comedy, the review argues, has sped up over two decades.
The Hollywood Reporter calls it "like Stick, only blander"—flat, disposable, and possibly 2026's most hollow comedy. Ferrell's physical comedy and Shannon's quips earn occasional chuckles, but characters feel toothless compared with Eastbound & Down. Product placement (Buffalo Wild Wings, McDonald's) often doubles as the joke.
Both outlets note the show rarely satirizes golf itself—perhaps because PGA Tour Studios is a producing partner—leaving it without a sharp angle.
Where was The Hawk filmed, and does that change the verdict?
Forbes reports filming across Southern California courses, with the final two episodes shot at the Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach—also the site of Netflix's press junket. Cast members said the shoot was as enjoyable as it looks.
Scenic fairways and a luxury finale backdrop don't fix what reviewers call a generic script. For Ferrell fans, The Hawk may still be a comfort watch; for critics, it's a reminder that past glories are hard to revive.