5 Movies to Watch If You Loved Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die—According to Sam Rockwell
Few actors working today can inject a project with the kind of infectious screen presence Sam Rockwell does. And thankfully, he’s back on the big screen with his new movie, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die. On the back of the release of this wild sci-fi thriller, Rockwell has not only proven his acting talents but has also shown he’s pretty good at recommending films to watch, too.
When discussing Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die with JustWatch, Rockwell referenced five other films that audiences will probably vibe with, which we’ve listed below. You can only watch Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die in cinemas for now, but you can (and should) dive into his other movie recommendations from the comfort of your own home – here’s why.
Time-travel comedies don’t come much more iconic than Back to the Future. Robert Zemeckis’s incredible film is so influential that it has been parodied and homaged countless times in the 40 years since its release. Rockwell’s new project similarly borrows aspects of the classic, especially with his portrayal of an eccentric, prophetic time traveller who feels very similar to Doc Brown.
From the tiny details in its clever and cool production design, to the excellent comedic dynamic between Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, to the big, bold visuals for the science fiction moments, most folk would agree that Back to the Future is pretty much flawless. If you want to see the film that inspired Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (and so many others before it), then hop on over to Disney+ now.
While Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is all about one man on a mission to save the world, Time Bandits goes for a more rogue approach, with a group of time-travelling thieves hopping through history to nab valuable treasure from under the nose of a mystical deity. It’s far bigger in scale than Sam Rockwell’s latest film, but it still has that same playful, high-stakes tone.
This one comes from the mind of Terry Gilliam, and it’s the first of a few films of his on this list. He’s a filmmaker who loves crafting surrealist stories that play around with colourful, quirky visuals. Time Bandits may not be his best or most vibrant work, but it’s certainly among his most universally entertaining; suitable for kids. Catch it on Channel 4 now.
Another one from Gilliam, and a far darker version of the time travel conceit. Twelve Monkeys is an apocalyptic thriller from the ‘90s, and given that it has the combined star power of Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, and Christopher Plummer, it really does deserve more attention. It’s the story of a man sent back in time to warn of a deadly virus that will decimate the human race, but the twist is he’s sent back too far, and everyone simply thinks he’s lost his mind.
I remember watching this a long time ago, and I’m pretty sure I was too young to actually watch it, but I was mesmerised by the high-concept story and the gritty, visceral feel to the film. It’s like a blend between the raw, unsanitised feel of 28 Days Later and the twisting narrative of Looper, with a healthy dose of violence on the side. You can watch this gem on BBC iPlayer for free.
Maybe Sam Rockwell is a little obsessed with Terry Gilliam, but to be fair to him, these are all bangers. The Fisher King is another film from the auteur boasting big screen royalty, with Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges joining forces for this modern fantasy with a comedic twist. As you’d expect, they absolutely light it up.
The similarities between The Fisher King and Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die are clear: they both feature a crazy incident in a diner and centre around a man on a quest, though it’s arguably less virtuous than what Rockwell’s futuristic hero is trying to achieve. What’s really special about The Fisher King is that, behind all the humour and silliness, there’s real heart here. It’s a poignant study of grief that tackles the issue with sincerity, and is well worth the £3.49 rental fee on Apple TV.
For something more modern and flashy, Everything Everywhere All At Once will certainly satisfy anyone craving a madcap mission into the multiverse. The Daniels brought a superb blend of creative visual flair, phenomenal production design, and genuinely laugh-out-loud humour to this awards darling that swept the Oscars in 2023.
Come for the bizarre hot dog fingers and weaponised sex toys, stay for the heartfelt depiction of family and the idea of knowing when is the right time to let things go, and when it’s better to pull someone close and hold them dear. It’s a truly beautiful film in both a thematic and technical sense, but more than anything, it’s just incredibly fun. You’ll have to pay to rent it from Prime Video and other platforms, but in my humble opinion, this is the best film on this list and is the kind of movie that’s almost impossible not to love.
