--- title: "Lucky: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/lucky/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/lucky" critics_score: 52 critics_reviews: 9 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." --- # Lucky (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 52 from 9 reviews: 4 positive, 1 mixed, 4 negative. The reviews split almost exactly down the middle, so there is no lean to report, only a division. What critics do agree on is Anya Taylor-Joy. Nearly every review finds her committed and watchable as the con artist on the run, slipping between personae with ease, and several credit her with carrying scenes the writing does not. The action sequences are the other point of agreement: the set-pieces, particularly in the opening episode, are called tense and well staged even by critics who like little else about the series. The reservations gather around the writing. The negative reviews find the series thin on character, heavy on exposition and stretched too far across seven episodes. IndieWire and Vulture both argue that the plot moves fast at the expense of anyone worth caring about, while The Telegraph goes further and calls it a cliché-ridden Tarantino imitation assembled from better work. The spread is wide: four warm reviews, four firmly dismissive, and only Collider in the middle. ## Variety — Aramide Tinubu Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 15 July 2026. The critic finds the Apple TV limited series a captivating story of a young woman's attempt to escape her criminal past. They single out the high-voltage thriller elements and Anya Taylor-Joy's performance as a con artist on the run. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/tv/reviews/lucky-review-apple-tv-anya-taylor-joy-1236806733/) ## The AV Club — Saloni Gajjar Rating B-. 14 July 2026. Anya Taylor-Joy delivers a committed lead performance in this repetitive crime thriller about a scam artist on the run. The premiere's action sequences stand out, but the show struggles with shallow storytelling and over-reliance on exposition. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/lucky-review-anya-taylor-joy-apple-tv) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 July 2026. The critic praises Anya Taylor-Joy as audacious and undeniably cool in this Apple TV crime thriller about a betrayed conwoman on the run after a heist. They single out the cat-and-mouse thrills, explosive set-pieces, and her competent, morally ambiguous antiheroine for praise while noting plausibility takes a back seat to excitement. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jul/11/lucky-anya-taylor-joy-is-undeniably-cool-in-this-explosive-tale-of-cons-revenge-and-ass-kicking) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 15 July 2026. The series features strong performances but ultimately feels more surface-level than substantive. It follows a con artist navigating betrayals and pursuits but lacks deeper character exploration beyond its propulsive plot. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/lucky-2026-review-anya-taylor-joy-apple-series-1235204918/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 15 July 2026. The critic concludes that the series never clicks despite a strong cast. They single out the entertaining action sequences and Taylor-Joy's ability to inhabit multiple personae, while noting weaknesses in lighter elements and overall cohesion. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/lucky-review-anya-taylor-joy-apple-tv-1236648186/) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 15 July 2026. The critic calls the Apple TV series a creaky, cliché-ridden Tarantino knock-off that under-serves its lead and feels assembled from better shows and films. They single out the formulaic heist caper plot and generic crime setting for complaint, though one supporting performance stands out for having fun with the material. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/lucky-apple-tv-review/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 15 July 2026. The series is a tepid, surface-level crime drama that overloads momentum at the expense of character depth and nuance. It fails to deliver on its promising cast and premise, coming across as an overly stretched book adaptation. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/lucky-apple-tv-series-review.html) ## NME — Nick Levine Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 July 2026. The critic finds the seven-part thriller instantly gripping with twists and fun, praising Taylor-Joy's riveting lead performance as a savvy opportunist and the compelling portrayals of the pursuing FBI agent and mob matriarch. Some clichés in flashbacks and convoluted syndicate details are noted, but the constant threat and smart narrative make it work overall. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/lucky-review-anya-taylor-joy-apple-tv-timothy-olyphant-3956962) ## Collider — Therese Lacson Rating 5/10. 14 July 2026. The critic notes that while the concept is a winner, the series is built on a shaky foundation and throws everything at the wall without knowing where to hit hardest. It lacks the witty humor and charisma of typical heist stories, resulting in a lackluster show that misses its full potential despite some strong performances. [Read the review](https://collider.com/lucky-apple-tv-review-anya-taylor-joy/) --- © 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/tv/lucky.md