I flew to Palm Springs specifically to see Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die. Was I invited to the Palm Springs Film Festival? Not exactly. Did that stop me? Absolutely not. Because when you hear that Gore Verbinski is back with a time-traveling, anti-A.I. apocalypse film starring Sam Rockwell going full bonkers mode, you don't ask questions. You just go. And oh boy, am I glad I did.
Sam Rockwell In Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die
What's It About (Zero Spoilers)
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die follows a wild-eyed time traveler (Sam Rockwell) who's jumped back from a dystopian future to warn us that things are about to get extremely bad. Think Time Bandits meets a rave inside a malfunctioning arcade machine, and you're starting to get the vibe. It's chaotic, colorful, completely unhinged, and one of the most inventive sci-fi experiences I've had in years.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die stars Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, Tom Taylor, and Juno Temple
Time Bandits Vibes
Speaking of Time Bandits… if you love Terry Gilliam's 1981 masterpiece like I do, you're going to find a lot to love here. Verbinski channels that same handmade, anything-goes energy that made Gilliam's work so special. Both films refuse to talk down to their audiences, embracing the weird and wonderful without apology. Where Time Bandits had Gilliam's distinctive practical effects and elaborate sets creating a fully realized fantasy world, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die has Verbinski's signature visual inventiveness turned up to maximum. The film is bursting with creative flourishes, every frame feels like it was crafted by someone who genuinely loves the art of cinema and isn't afraid to take big swings. And like Time Bandits, this isn't a movie that pulls its punches. It's got that same dark, uncompromising edge that made Gilliam's film feel authentic to classic fairy tales. There's real stakes here, real consequences, and moments that are genuinely unsettling in the best possible way. It treats its audience with respect, trusting us to handle the chaos and darkness alongside the humor and heart.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die stars Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, Tom Taylor, and Juno Temple
Sam Rockwell Is Having the Time of His Life
Let's talk about Sam Rockwell for a second. This man is electric. Watching him tear through this movie is like watching a masterclass in controlled chaos. He's bouncing off walls, delivering rapid-fire dialogue, and committing so fully to the madness that you can't help but be swept up in it. The the entire ensemble: Michael Peña, Juno Temple, Zazie Beetz, Haley Lu Richardson, and Asim Chaudhry somehow manages to keep up with him. Nobody's getting lost in the shuffle. They're all bringing their A-game, matching Rockwell's energy beat for beat.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die stars Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, Tom Taylor, and Juno Temple
Independent Spirit, Big Imagination
One of the things that makes this film so special is that Verbinski made it independently. Without the constraints of a major studio breathing down his neck, he was free to get weird, take risks, and create something truly original. You can feel that freedom in every frame.
Verbinski himself has talked about how Hollywood is stuck in a loop of sequels and algorithm-driven content, and this film feels like a direct response to that creative stagnation. It's scrappy, inventive, and bursting with ideas, the kind of movie that reminds you why original filmmaking matters.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die stars Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, Tom Taylor, and Juno Temple
I'm going to be honest with you, this movie is weird. The pacing is chaotic. It's a lot to take in, and it's definitely not for everyone. This is a movie that's moving at the speed of its own imagination, and sometimes you just have to strap in and enjoy the ride. Yes, it's messy. Yes, it's wild. But it's also fearless, funny, and refreshingly original in a landscape that desperately needs more films willing to color outside the lines. It reminded me why I fell in love with movies in the first place. It’s that sense of wonder, of not knowing what's coming next, of watching filmmakers swing for the fences even if it means occasionally missing.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die stars Sam Rockwell, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, Tom Taylor, and Juno Temple
The Verdict
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die is a glorious, anarchic, technicolor fever dream that deserves to find its audience. It's the kind of movie that will have people arguing about it, dissecting it, and rewatching it to catch all the details they missed the first time around.
Did I fly to Palm Springs just to see this movie? Yes. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.
Support weird cinema. Support original voices. And when this movie comes to a theater near you, grab your most adventurous movie-loving friends and take the plunge.
A wild, wonderful ride that's worth every chaotic minute.