Anti-AI comedy 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die' falls short

The zany sci-fi film from director Gore Verbinski fails to stand out despite its wild premise.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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In the film 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die,' a hooded man from the future recruits a group of diner patrons in Los Angeles to help him alter an artificial intelligence that has made his time 'a nightmare apocalypse.' The well-meaning but disappointing first film in years from director Gore Verbinski is an unfocused mishmash of ideas that lacks the striking visuals of his previous work and fails to fully capitalize on its wild premise.

Why it matters

The film's anti-AI message remains relevant as AI becomes more ubiquitous in our daily lives, but it fails to offer a fresh perspective among the growing number of cautionary AI tales. While the movie has some entertaining moments, it ultimately falls short of standing out in a crowded field.

The details

The film follows the hooded man, played by Sam Rockwell, as he recruits a group of diner patrons, including a teacher, a distraught mother, and an Uber driver, to help him alter the code of a powerful AI entity before it is completed by a 9-year-old boy. Along the way, the film fleshes out the backstories of some of the characters, including satirizing the issue of high school students' phone addiction. However, the film's commentary on school shootings falls flat, and the ending is bloated, contributing to a runtime that's longer than necessary.

  • The film was written by Matthew Robinson in 2020 and sent to Sam Rockwell in 2022 by director Gore Verbinski.
  • 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die' is being released in theaters this week (February 13, 2026).

The players

Gore Verbinski

The director of the film, known for his work on the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise and the underrated 2017 film 'A Cure for Wellness.'

Sam Rockwell

The acclaimed actor who stars as the hooded man from the future in the film.

Matthew Robinson

The screenwriter of 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die,' whose previous credits include 'Dora and the Lost City of Gold' and 'Love and Monsters.'

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What they’re saying

“Clearly no fan of AI, Verbinski, according to the film's production notes, read Robinson's script back in 2020 and sent it to Rockwell two years later.”

— Mark Meszoros, Critic (islandpacket.com)

“At best, if watched later at home, it may be a reason to put your phone down, at least intermittently.”

— Mark Meszoros, Critic (islandpacket.com)

The takeaway

While 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die' has some entertaining moments and a timely anti-AI message, the film ultimately fails to stand out in a crowded field of cautionary tales about the dangers of artificial intelligence. The unfocused narrative and bloated ending prevent the movie from fully capitalizing on its wild premise.