Gore Verbinski's R-Rated Sci-Fi Flop Is Becoming 2026's New Cult Classic

The strangest sci-fi movie of the year — Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die — is redeeming itself on digital after a disappointing box-office performance.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 9:20pm

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Director Gore Verbinski's new sci-fi comedy film "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" underperformed at the box office, grossing only $9 million worldwide against a $20 million budget. However, the film has received strong reviews, holding an 83% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, and is now finding success on PVOD platforms, ranking among the most-watched movies on Amazon, iTunes, and Vudu over the past weekend.

Why it matters

Verbinski is a renowned director known for the successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but also for the critical and commercial failure of The Lone Ranger, which sent him to "director jail" for several years. Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die represents his comeback, and its positive reviews and growing popularity on digital platforms suggest it may become a cult classic, despite its disappointing theatrical run.

The details

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die follows a time-traveler who recruits customers of a diner to fight a future war against artificial intelligence. The film was released by the relatively newer distributor Briaircliff Entertainment and premiered at the Fantastic Fest last year. Despite its low budget, about one-tenth of the budget of Chris Pratt's The Tomorrow War, the movie features an impressive cast, including Oscar-winner Sam Rockwell, Zazie Beetz, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, and Juno Temple.

  • Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die premiered at the Fantastic Fest last year.
  • The movie was released by Briaircliff Entertainment in 2026.

The players

Gore Verbinski

An American film director known for directing the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films, as well as the critical and commercial failure of The Lone Ranger, which sent him to "director jail" for several years.

Sam Rockwell

An Oscar-winning American actor who starred in Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die.

Briaircliff Entertainment

A relatively newer film distributor that released Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die.

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What they’re saying

“a gleeful high-concept comedy with a serious message at its core.”

— Aidan Kelley, Collider Critic

What’s next

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates on the home video journey of Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die.

The takeaway

Despite its disappointing box office performance, Gore Verbinski's return to feature filmmaking with Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die has been well-received by critics and is now finding success on digital platforms, suggesting it may become a cult classic in the years to come.