Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die Review

Brighton Nelson

20 Feb 2026 — 6 min read

After far too long a hiatus, legendary director Gore Verbinski has finally been released from director's jail! And, as soon as I heard how epic the premise was here, I knew this would have to be a bombastic reentry into the director's chair... and my educated guess was absolutely right! Seeing this film a week early with a bunch of Verbinski fans in theaters was an absolute treat, and, regrettably, I've taken even this long to write about this film. Without further ado, I, Brighton Nelson of the Reel Ranker, present my Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die review.

Sam Rockwell's Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die Big Twist & Sequel Chances Addressed By Director And Cast — I love how Sam Rockwell's character never gets a name in this movie...

Gore Verbinski's return truly had a wonderful premise. The film follows a time traveler who shows up at a random diner and tells everyone present that they are the only people who can save the world. Naturally, the people in the diner look at Sam Rockwell's character like he's a madman. He is, but that doesn't mean he's wrong. It's really fun to watch the first few minutes unfold in all their beautiful chaos. Eventually, the Time Traveler chooses his team, and they set off to destroy the supercomputer AI that is plaguing the world.

The cast here is fantastic, with the core cast of five being Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, and Juno Temple. Sam Rockwell plays the zany, unnamed time traveller who is such a mood and so entertaining to watch. Michael Peña and Zazie Beetz play a rather subdued couple, but their backstory is interesting, and they stay major players throughout the film. Juno Temple's character feels pretty manic throughout the film and isn't all that likable, even if she's relatable, but her performance is strong. And, for me, the best character and performance in the film came from Haley Lu Richardson. She plays such a relatable, offbeat, socially awkward character that becomes infectiously lovable by the end of the film. Everybody's performances come together to make an off-kilter, quirky cast that makes the film loads of fun. While most of the rest of the cast is played for jokes, since the core five are super strong, the film is made better by the gimmick characters, and giving them more time would've taken away from the most important characters.

The plot here is so intriguing, even if it isn't always perfectly executed. The lot features sharp, satirical comedy and commentary on the effects of technology on the world and how humanity is becoming consumed by it, to the point of desiring virtual reality over true reality. The plot explores taboo subjects such as school shootings and human cloning in an elegant, sharp, and humorous way that truly holds up a mirror to the audience. The backstory elements of the plot are easily the highlight, easily eclipsing the already great and fun present-day voyage. Each of the backstories is heartbreaking, full of twists, and memorable, keeping the story fresh with each vignette.

Nevertheless, the plot starts to fall apart a bit in the third act. After the backstory elements, there's a point where the team is supposed to run from one house to the final location where the AI is being held. While this part is fun, the film shifts from believable sci-fi with time travel and realistic commentary to a crazy climax featuring a giant cat monster. I would've preferred the screen zombies alone, as they symbolize the movie's themes, whereas a giant cat felt out of place. However, the plot luckily comes back together at the end with a few brilliant plot twists and a powerful conclusion that recontextualizes and tragedizes the plot while still leaving it on a hopeful note.

On top of the strong style conveyed by the plot, performances, and the powerful script, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die's production design, visual style, and character design are impeccable. From the poster to the end credits, there's a lot of style, not just substance. In a time when many films can look the same, this film establishes a ton of style, even as most of the plot unfolds in mundane suburbia. Even just the odd title drops in the film allow the film's sound design to cut through... there's truly no element of the film left untouched by its style.

There are so many shots like this one in the film that are so zany and have such great vibes.2

The Reel Ranker Verdict

Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 86%
Letter Score: S
Star Ranking: 4.5 out of 5

While the plot can be confusing at times and goes in a couple of directions I didn't love, those small gripes do very little to deter me from recommending Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die from the rooftops because it's truly phenomenal. Gore Verbinski has made yet another masterpiece full of fun, humor, satire, and emotion, proving his directorial strength yet again and reminding us of just how much we've missed his unique touch over the years.

Interested in some other February film reviews? Check them out down below!