---
title: "Good Luck to You, Leo Grande"
year: 2022
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande"
fi1m_id: "good-luck-to-you-leo-grande"
imdb_id: "tt13352968"
tmdb_id: 758330
wikidata_id: "Q106740037"
fi1m_score: 79
critics_score: 75
critics_reviews: 27
published: "2026-10-03T02:47:50.421522+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-03T02:48:00.352393+00:00"
region: "JP"
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."
---

# Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)

Directed by Sophie Hyde · 1h 37m · Romance, Drama

## Identity

Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** good-luck-to-you-leo-grande
- **IMDb ID:** tt13352968
- **TMDB ID:** 758330
- **Wikidata ID:** Q106740037
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13352968/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/758330, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106740037

**Fi1m score: 79** · Critics 75 from 27 reviews

*In a sentence:* Emma Thompson has made a list, and somehow the paperwork is the part that makes us blush

> Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack make this frank drama about sexual pleasure funny, awkward and moving. Katy Brand’s script occasionally turns conversations into lessons, but Sophie Hyde gives the actors room to be less tidy.

## Synopsis

Nancy Stokes (Emma Thompson) wants to explore sexual desires she has struggled to express, and turns to sex worker Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) for help. She has a list, but their conversation involves more than deciding what to try: embarrassment, pleasure and questions about whether the arrangement is legal all need addressing. Leo’s ease gives Nancy room to talk, though finding words for what she wants is an awkward business. Their encounter brings her feelings about her own body into the discussion, too. The small cast also includes Becky Foster (Isabella Laughland).

## Review

Sophie Hyde’s *Good Luck to You, Leo Grande* is warm, funny and worth the occasional wince at dialogue that sounds too carefully prepared. It asks us to take an older woman’s sexual curiosity seriously without treating her embarrassment as something shameful, and mostly earns that trust. Katy Brand’s screenplay gives Nancy Stokes a sex worker to talk to and a formidable amount to say. Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack make the exchanges engaging even when we can hear the lesson coming.

Nancy’s list of desires is a good comic starting point because it makes something intimate sound reassuringly manageable. We laughed, then felt rather sad: she can put her wishes on paper more easily than she can ask for them. Thompson makes that difficulty recognisable without asking us to find everything Nancy says endearing. There is something aggravating about her, and the performance benefits from allowing it. Her embarrassment never becomes an excuse to stop paying attention to how she treats the person listening.

McCormack’s Leo Grande needs to be more than an agreeable answer to Nancy’s difficulties, and the performance does patient work towards that. His ease could make the exchanges feel one-sided, with Nancy supplying every complication and Leo supplying every reassurance. Instead, McCormack makes listening interesting: we keep wondering how much of his attention is professional and how much Nancy can reasonably ask of him. The chemistry works because both actors remain worth watching when the other is speaking, which matters in a film with this much conversation.

Bryan Mason’s cinematography attends to the actors’ physical responses without making either body an exhibit. As editor, he also respects Thompson’s comic timing; the exchanges have enough breathing space for embarrassment to register. That attention helps the film avoid feeling like dialogue accompanied by faces, though it cannot disguise every line written for our instruction. Miren Marañón’s restrained production design keeps the surroundings from competing with the performers. It is an appropriate choice for a drama whose chief visual interest is how comfortable two people can become with each other.

Stephen Rennicks’s score handles the movement between humour and tenderness lightly. The music helps those changes feel natural, particularly when the writing seems anxious to make sure we have understood them. Brand is good at finding comedy in the difficulty of speaking plainly about sex, and Thompson can make an awkward exchange funny without dismissing the anxiety underneath it. When the screenplay starts explaining its attitudes to sex work, however, the conversation becomes noticeably less convincing.

That is the film’s main limitation, and it matters because Leo can seem almost too well equipped to help. The questions about professional attention, private feeling and what a client is entitled to know deserve more untidy answers than the screenplay always permits. McCormack supplies some of that uncertainty, but the writing keeps trying to be helpful. We would have welcomed fewer assurances and more confidence that these two actors could leave a difficult question hanging without losing our sympathy.

As a drama about sexual self-acceptance, the film earns considerable affection by allowing awkwardness to be funny without making desire itself ridiculous. Its theatrical quality will trouble anyone who needs more than talk to keep a film moving. At 97 minutes, though, it gives its performers a worthwhile amount of room. See it for them, and allow for a script that occasionally explains what their faces have already made clear.

*Fi1m score 79, published 3 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics welcome Good Luck to You, Leo Grande as a warm, funny and affecting treatment of older women’s desire, with praise concentrated on Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack. Thompson’s vulnerability and comic timing draw particular attention, while McCormack’s subtlety and the pair’s chemistry help make their growing intimacy convincing. The reviews broadly value the film’s candid approach to sexual pleasure and self-acceptance, often finding the performances persuasive even when the writing feels strained.

Reservations centre on stagey dialogue, idealised characters and discussions of sex work that can sound like lessons rather than conversation. Some otherwise enthusiastic reviews also want a fuller examination of power within the central relationship. The spread is wide but mostly favourable: The New Yorker finds the film coy and overly sweet, while Screen Daily offers a firmer dissent, finding the drama unsatisfying and its ending disappointing.

## Straight answers

**Is Good Luck to You, Leo Grande worth watching?**

*Good Luck to You, Leo Grande* is worth watching for Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack’s funny, moving performances, and we score it 79 out of 100. We recommend it to anyone drawn to intimate, conversation-led drama, though the script sometimes turns frank discussion of sex and self-acceptance into lessons the actors hardly need.

**How long is Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, and what is it rated?**

*Good Luck to You, Leo Grande* runs 1h 37m. It is a romance and drama film.

**Where can I watch Good Luck to You, Leo Grande in Japan?**

*Good Luck to You, Leo Grande* is not on any streaming or rental service in Japan at the moment. It is available in 29 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, and is it suitable for children?**

*Good Luck to You, Leo Grande* carries a UK 15 certificate and is not suitable for children; its adult subject matter centres on sexual pleasure, sex work and body image. We would approach it as a frank, sometimes awkward drama for older teenagers and adults comfortable with sustained conversations about sex, rather than as a frightening film.

**How does Good Luck to You, Leo Grande compare to The Sessions?**

*Good Luck to You, Leo Grande* offers more rewarding attention to performance and comic timing than the ordinary filmmaking of [*The Sessions*](https://film.one/film/the-sessions), though we find both warm and frank about sexual vulnerability. The former centres on an older woman’s difficulty expressing desire; the latter addresses sex and disability. Both earn their intimacy, but neither explores every difficult question fully.

**What should I watch after Good Luck to You, Leo Grande?**

After *Good Luck to You, Leo Grande*, try [*The Sessions*](https://film.one/film/the-sessions) (2012, Fi1m 79): Another frank encounter between sex work, physical vulnerability and the difficulty of asking. Then [*The Lunchbox*](https://film.one/film/the-lunchbox) (2013, Fi1m 75): Private longing emerges through small exchanges between people unused to being noticed.

### Reviews we read (27)

- **Vulture**, Alison Willmore (90/100, inferred): Willmore finds the film generous, surprising, and a joyous defense of sex work as a path to self-discovery. She especially praises Daryl McCormack’s nuanced performance and the film’s frank, unfettered final sex scene. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2022/06/good-luck-to-you-leo-grandes-joyous-case-for-sex-work.html)
- **Little White Lies**, Stefania Sarrubba (85/100, inferred): The critic finds the film refreshing, intelligent and life-affirming, praising its candid, stigma-free treatment of sex and intimacy. They single out Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack’s chemistry and performances as the force that elevates the film. [Read](https://lwlies.com/festivals/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-first-look-review)
- **Variety**, Amy Nicholson (Critics Pick): Nicholson calls the film riveting, while noting that Nancy can be both sympathetic and aggravating. She particularly praises Daryl McCormack’s subtle performance and the film’s attentive sound design. [Read](https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-1235158836/)
- **The AV Club**, Mark Keizer (B+): Keizer finds the film a tender, richly satisfying charmer, though Leo’s backstory weakens the two-hander. He praises Emma Thompson’s nuanced performance and the film’s sensitive portrayal of sexual awakening and self-acceptance. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-emma-thompson-sophie-1849066395)
- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (4/5): The critic finds the film ground-breaking but patchy, with its central performances making it work. She praises Thompson’s uninhibited portrayal and the chemistry between Thompson and McCormack, while faulting parts of the script as clumsy and ageist. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-emma-thompson-b978251.html)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (80/100, inferred): Chang finds the film charming and pleasurable, with an earnest but worthwhile message about women’s desire. He particularly praises Emma Thompson’s performance and the way it challenges assumptions about which bodies deserve attention onscreen. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-06-16/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-emma-thompson)
- **Radio Times**, Amber Wilkinson (4/5): Wilkinson finds the film a measured, emotionally engaging consideration of an older woman’s sexual emancipation. She particularly praises Emma Thompson’s nuanced performance for giving it emotional heart. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-psx7bm/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Leslie Felperin (80/100, inferred): Felperin finds the film an affirming, immensely likable, sex-positive comedy-drama, though somewhat more issue-driven than character-driven. She especially praises Emma Thompson’s moving performance and the film’s sensitive, non-objectifying presentation of its leads. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-sundance-2022-1235078723/)
- **Time Out**, Emma Steen (4/5): The review calls it a joyfully sex-positive drama and praises Emma Thompson’s performance. It highlights the film’s thoughtful treatment of intimacy, identity and sexual pleasure. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-2022)
- **IndieWire**, David Ehrlich (B): Ehrlich finds the film a touching, sex-positive chamber piece, though its early banter and idealized characters can feel schematic. He particularly praises Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack, whose performances make the characters’ growing intimacy feel genuine. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-emma-thompson-hires-a-male-escort-in-a-touching-and-sex-positive-two-hander-1234691416/)
- **Empire**, Hanna Flint (75/100, inferred): Flint finds the film endearing, heartening and funny, with a compassionate, sex-positive perspective. She especially praises Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack’s performances and the script’s treatment of sex and sex work, though she feels it could probe power dynamics more deeply. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande/)
- **The i Paper**, Francesca Steele (75/100, inferred): Steele finds the film beautifully written and emotionally moving, despite a forced late obstacle and an incomplete exploration of sex work. She especially praises Emma Thompson’s tender transformation and her acceptance of her naked body. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-emma-thompson-daryl-mccormack-sex-1690812?ico=related_stories)
- **Sight and Sound**, BFI (70/100, inferred): The review finds the film witty and tender, with its stagey dialogue carried by the leads’ performances. It particularly praises Emma Thompson’s comic timing and the nuanced physicality between the two characters. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/good-luck-you-leo-grande-all-beds-stage-0)
- **Film Comment** (65/100, inferred): The review’s verdict is unavailable in the supplied page text. Its specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/films/and-good-luck/)
- **The Guardian**, Mark Kermode (65/100, inferred): Kermode finds the film enjoyably subversive and whimsical, though its theatricality makes the central relationship hard to believe. He praises Emma Thompson’s performance and Stephen Rennicks’s score for moving lightly between comedy and emotion. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jun/19/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-emma-thompson-excels-in-stagey-sex-comedy)
- **The New York Times** (65/100, inferred): The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. I cannot identify what the critic praised or criticized. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/15/movies/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review.html)
- **Slant Magazine**, Wes Greene (2.5/4): Greene finds the film familiar but affecting, with its two lead performances giving the story subtlety and depth. He praises the honest, off-the-cuff character moments, while faulting the discussions of sex work for feeling didactic and unnecessary. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-emma-thompson/)
- **The New Yorker** (55/100, inferred): The review finds the film earnest and appealing but also treacly and coy about sex. It praises Emma Thompson’s nude scenes as affirmations that challenge movie stereotypes. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande)
- **Screen Daily**, Wendy Ide (35/100, inferred): Ide finds the sexual-empowerment comedy drama ultimately unsatisfying. The page identifies Emma Thompson as its lead and signals disappointment with the film’s ending. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-sundance-review/5166664.article)
- **Collider**, Carly Lane (9/10): Lane praises the film as a tender, sex-positive story about emotional and physical intimacy. She singles out Emma Thompson’s portrayal of Nancy, especially a mirror scene that makes her feel empowered and beautiful. [Read](https://collider.com/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-emma-thompson-daryl-mccormack/)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (90/100, inferred): Hammond calls the film fascinating and an awards-worthy showcase for its stars. He especially praises Emma Thompson’s brave, dazzling performance and Daryl McCormack’s equally strong work. [Read](https://deadline.com/2022/01/sundance-review-emma-thompson-and-daryl-mccormack-in-good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-1234917716/)
- **/Film**, Ben Pearson (10 out of 10): The critic calls the film spellbinding and praises its intimate, compelling storytelling. They single out Thompson and McCormack’s magnetic performances, alongside Hyde’s direction. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/742961/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-emma-thompson-is-magnetic-in-this-intimate-drama-sundance-2022/)
- **Film Stories**, Linda Marric (90/100, inferred): Marric calls the film an affecting, essential work and praises its feminist approach to women’s sexuality after 50. She singles out Emma Thompson’s fearless performance, while also commending Daryl McCormack’s charm and Katy Brand’s dialogue. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-genuinely-thrilling/)
- **The Wrap**, Tomris Laffly (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the film engaging and moving, despite a wordy script and one preachy moment. Thompson’s nuanced performance and her quick shifts between roles stand out for praise. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-film-review-emma-thompson-daryl-mccormack/)
- **Paste**, Jacob Oller (7.4/10): Oller finds the film a sweet, funny, and satisfying two-hander, though some dramatic turns feel extreme and a penultimate scene is cheesy. He especially praises Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack’s chemistry and performances. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/sundance-2022/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (70/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds the film gently satisfying, despite a stage-like quality and a midpoint shift that feels under-earned. She especially praises Emma Thompson’s finely calibrated performance, while also noting Daryl McCormack’s subtlety. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-2022-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **The Playlist** (64/100, inferred): The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint is available from the page text. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande-review-emma-thompson-sundance-2022-20220122/)

## Details

- **Director:** Sophie Hyde
- **Director:** Sophie Hyde
- **Screenplay:** Katy Brand
- **Cinematography:** Bryan Mason
- **Editor:** Bryan Mason
- **Music:** Stephen Rennicks
- **Production design:** Miren Marañón
- **Producer:** Adrian Politowski, Debbie Gray
- **Cast:** Emma Thompson as Nancy Stokes; Daryl McCormack as Leo Grande; Isabella Laughland as Becky Foster; Les Mabaleka as Delivery Person; Lennie Beare as Person on Bike; Carina Lopes as Waitress 1; Charlotte Ware as Waitress 2
- **Runtime:** 1h 37m
- **First release (the US):** 22 January 2022
- **Genres:** Romance, Drama
- **Box office:** $8 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJcbZoJFLTU

## Where to watch in Japan

Not streaming, renting or buying in Japan at the last check.

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, IE, IN, IT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, SE, TR, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *The Sessions* (2012), Fi1m 79: Another frank encounter between sex work, physical vulnerability and the difficulty of asking. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-sessions.md)
- *Desert Hearts* (1985): An adult romance that gives hesitant desire time to become something lived.
- *Gloria* (2013): An older woman’s appetite for life survives awkward encounters and disappointing men.
- *The Lunchbox* (2013), Fi1m 75: Private longing emerges through small exchanges between people unused to being noticed. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-lunchbox.md)
- *A Tale of Autumn* (1998): Mature desire, meddling friends and conversations that complicate what seemed simple.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/good-luck-to-you-leo-grande