Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen drinking, kissing, swearing in family cancer drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Don't Say Good Luck
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In DON'T SAY GOOD LUCK, sophomore Sophie Birenbaum (Sunny Sandler) lands the lead role in her high school musical. But while she's learning her part, she's also dealing with tragedy at home when her mother's cancer returns. Encouraged by her parents (Melanie Lynskey and Max Greenfield), Sophie stays in the play and spends much of her free time rehearsing. But as her mom's condition gets progressively worse, she starts to question whether she should be spending time on anything other than being with her family.
Is It Any Good?
There's an authenticity to this film, despite its familiar teens-facing-tragedy set-up, which makes it a unique and tender watch. Sandler and companions feel more like actual teenagers in Don't Say Good Luck than the one-dimensional stereotypes of much teen fare today. The fly-on-the-wall camera work and editing make you feel a part of everyday scenarios in Sophie's home and school lives. For a film about a family's march toward one member's certain death, though, the ending feels a little hurried and perhaps too open-ended.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Don't Say Good Luck deals with the topic of cancer. What do we learn about the mother's diagnosis? How do we see individual characters dealing with their feelings about it?
How does the female lead compare to other young women in teenage films you've watched?
How does the movie portray high school and high schoolers? Did it rely on any stereotypes? Does it feel accurate? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 14, 2026
- Cast : Sunny Sandler , Melanie Lynskey , Max Greenfield
- Director : Julia Hart
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Family Stories ( Dads , Moms , Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic material, some strong language, teen drinking and sexual references
- Last updated : August 12, 2026
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