--- title: "Don't Say Good Luck: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/dont-say-good-luck/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/dont-say-good-luck" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Don't Say Good Luck (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 10 reviews: 8 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like Don’t Say Good Luck, and the praise gathers around two performances. Melanie Lynskey, as a mother whose cancer has returned, is named in nearly every review as the film’s emotional centre, and several call her work quiet and true rather than showy. Sunny Sandler, as the daughter preparing to lead her school’s production of Waitress, is credited with more range and maturity than the reviews expect from a teenage lead. The writing is praised for treating the diagnosis as something the family lives with rather than a countdown, and for keeping the high-school scenes light without making the rest feel trivial. The spread is fairly wide. Two reviews are lukewarm: Radio Times finds a competent television weepie with flat characters and a self-centred protagonist, and The Times thinks the daughter shines while the film around her does not. Even admirers mention contrivances and thin supporting roles, and one notes the film skirts the grimmer realities of the illness. ## RogerEbert.com — Tomris Laffly Fi1m's normalised score 86/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic praises the film as a disarmingly lovely coming-of-age tale with a gently simmering tragedy, highlighting Sunny Sandler's wonderful performance as Sophie and the compassionate script that honors both her high-school world and family challenges. They single out the emotional maturity and range of Sandler's portrayal, along with Hart's sensitive direction that avoids clichés. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dont-say-good-luck-sunny-sandler-netflix-movie-review-2026) ## The AV Club — Monica Castillo Rating B+. 13 August 2026. The review describes a tender yet grounded weepy focused on living with a cancer diagnosis rather than death, praising its realistic depiction of family dynamics, levity amid tragedy, and strong performances, especially Melanie Lynskey as the mother. It notes the film earns its emotional payoff through character relationships rather than melodrama. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/dont-say-good-luck-review) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic calls it a tender and honest coming-of-age cancer drama with a welcome high school musical element that will break viewers' hearts. It highlights the strong performances by Melanie Lynskey and Sunny Sandler and the film's blend of grief and everyday life. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/dont-say-good-luck-review-lynskey-sandler-netflix-1235209747/) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic describes it as an honest four-hanky weepie that works, commending Sunny Sandler and Melanie Lynskey for giving genuine soul to the mother-daughter heartbreaker and Hart's sensitive, open-hearted direction. They single out the care and compassion in the writing and performances that avoid flat stereotypes. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/dont-say-good-luck-review-1236832816/) ## Los Angeles Times — Mary McNamara Fi1m's normalised score 79/100 (inferred from the text). 13 August 2026. The critic calls it a moving argument for aspirational television and a tender ode to parental support, praising Melanie Lynskey's quietly transcendent performance as the mother and the film's emotionally resonant portrayal of a loving family. They single out the authentic feelings and message despite skirting some grim realities. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2026-08-13/dont-say-good-luck-netflix-review-sunny-sandler-melanie-lynskey) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Angie Han Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic praises the film as a sensitive, fine-grained drama about a teen navigating her mother's cancer recurrence while starring in her high school production of Waitress. It singles out the authentic, tender mother-daughter relationship and performances by Sunny Sandler and especially Melanie Lynskey for praise, while noting minor narrative and supporting-character issues. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/dont-say-good-luck-review-sunny-sandler-netflix-1236670490/) ## Radio Times — Calum Baker Rating 3/5. The critic finds this a competent but shallow TV-movie weepie that hits its emotional marks without transcending its narrow perspective. They single out the flat characterisations, particularly the self-centred protagonist, and the nepo-baby showcase element for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-nt1ax6/dont-say-good-luck/) ## The Times Fi1m's normalised score 49/100 (inferred from the text). 13 August 2026. The critic describes a lightweight family drama in which Adam Sandler directs his 17-year-old daughter Sunny Sandler as a girl preparing for the lead in a school play. The daughter shines while the film itself does not. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/dont-say-good-luck-review-adam-sandler-netflix-058hv3brl) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic praises the film as a mature and engaging coming-of-age story that rises above typical YA fare through its sensitive handling of family tragedy intersecting with a high school musical production. The lead performances by Sunny Sandler and especially Melanie Lynskey are singled out for their emotional depth and authenticity. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2026/08/dont-say-good-luck-review-melanie-lynskey-sunny-sandler-1237031849/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 77/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2026. The critic calls it a sincere if flawed drama that captures bittersweet human emotions around life, death, and pursuing dreams amid a mother's terminal illness. Melanie Lynskey's performance is highlighted as the emotional core that makes the film moving and honest despite some contrivances. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/dont-say-good-luck-review-melanie-lynskey-netflix/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/dont-say-good-luck.md