Critics Praise Director's First Film in Nearly a Decade as "Best Black Mirror Episode in Years"

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Gore Verbinski's new sci-fi thriller "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" starring Sam Rockwell as a man from the future who takes a diner hostage to save the world from a rogue AI has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, with many calling it the "best Black Mirror episode in more than a decade." The film marks Verbinski's first movie since 2016's "A Cure for Wellness" and is seen as a return to form for the director, who is best known for helming the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy.

Why it matters

Verbinski's previous films, including "The Lone Ranger," which was Disney's biggest box office flop at the time, received mixed reviews, so the positive reception for "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" is seen as a comeback for the director. The film's blend of sci-fi, social commentary, and dark humor is also drawing comparisons to the acclaimed anthology series "Black Mirror," further heightening interest in the project.

The details

"Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" stars Sam Rockwell as an unnamed "Man from the future" who takes the patrons of a Los Angeles diner hostage in order to help him save the world from a rogue artificial intelligence. The cast also includes Juno Temple, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, and Tom Taylor. At the time of writing, the film sits at a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score.

• "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" hits theaters on February 13, 2026.