Adam Sandler-Produced Netflix Film ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ Achieves 95% on Rotten Tomatoes

Netflix releases a plethora of original films each month, making it quite rare for one to stand out purely based on critical acclaim. Most new titles come with mixed reviews, often landing somewhere in the middle of the ratings spectrum.

This makes the debut of a new coming-of-age dramedy particularly noteworthy. A film that quietly premiered on the platform this week is already being hailed as one of the year’s standout releases, thanks to its exceptional reception.

‘Don’t Say Good Luck‘ has launched with an impressive 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, entering an exclusive group of Netflix original films that have achieved near-perfect ratings from critics. The film boasts 18 positive reviews out of 21 total, resulting in an average rating of 7.4 out of 10, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Very few Netflix films have reached this level of acclaim. Previous titles that achieved perfect scores with a significant number of reviews include the horror film ‘His House’ and the documentaries ‘Crip Camp,’ produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, and ‘A Secret Love,’ all of which accomplished this feat in 2020. This makes ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’s’ impressive debut even more remarkable given its rarity.

The film has also received favorable ratings on Metacritic, where it currently holds a score of 72 out of 100 based on ten critics, landing in the “generally favorable” category according to that platform’s weighted average system. The reception across both aggregators suggests that the film is resonating widely rather than dividing opinions.

‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ follows Sophie Birenbaum, portrayed by Sunny Sandler, a theater enthusiast preparing to lead her high school’s production of ‘Waitress’ while her mother’s serious illness disrupts life at home. Directed and co-written by Julia Hart, the film also features Melanie Lynskey, Max Greenfield, Stephanie Beatriz, Bebe Neuwirth, and Steve Buscemi, with Adam and Jackie Sandler, Sunny’s real-life parents, serving as producers.

Much of the critical acclaim has focused on Lynskey’s portrayal of Sophie’s ailing mother, Elizabeth. Reviewers have highlighted her performance as a standout, noting her ability to remain fully engaged in the role even as her character’s health deteriorates.

This consistent praise across various outlets is contributing to the film’s high aggregate scores early in its release. With only 18 reviews counted thus far, there remains a possibility that the score could fluctuate as more critics weigh in, but the current trend indicates genuine enthusiasm rather than a skewed sample.

The film arrives amidst a crowded Netflix release calendar, competing directly with titles like ‘The Last House,’ which has maintained the platform’s top movie spot since its debut, along with stiff competition from recent Spider-Man releases. Whether ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ can convert its critical success into strong viewership remains to be seen, but its stellar Rotten Tomatoes debut certainly gives it a significant advantage in a landscape that rarely offers such unanimous acclaim.

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