Don't Say Good Luck (2026)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A 16-year-old girl must navigate the complexities of a high school musical while grappling with her mother's returning cancer.
The story
The quiet 16-year-old Sophie Birenbaum is surprised to land a leading role in her high school musical of Waitress, only to simultaneously discover that her mother's cancer has returned. While her best friend, Carolyn, initially offers support, the dynamic shifts as Sophie begins to feel isolated. To prepare for the production, Sophie's mother, Elizabeth, takes her to a mall to practice her southern accent. However, the family is soon faced with the reality that the cancer is progressing more quickly than expected, and Elizabeth chooses to keep the severity of the situation hidden from Sophie to ensure she doesn't quit the musical.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Sophie Birenbaum, a 16-year-old girl, finds herself in a leading role in her high school's production of Waitress while her mother, Elizabeth, hides the fact that her cancer is progressing rapidly. As rehearsals continue, Sophie faces personal hurdles, including a falling out with her best friend Carolyn and a complicated dynamic with her grandmother, Linda. The tension peaks when Sophie discovers her mother's condition is dire after a series of events, including a failed attempt to keep the news secret during a family gathering. After a series of complications involving her peers and a misunderstanding about her mother's involvement in the show, Sophie learns the truth about her mother's health. Despite the emotional turmoil, Sophie decides to stay in the play. In the end, the family finds a way to be together, and Sophie performs a song for her mother in a backyard setting designed to look like a beach house.
- First release year
- 2026
- Runtime (minutes)
- 95
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Julia Hart
- Writers
- Laura Hankin · screenplay; Julia Hart · screenplay; Jordan Horowitz · screenplay; Laura Hankin · story
- Cast and characters
- Sunny Sandler · Sophie Birenbaum; Melanie Lynskey · Elizabeth Birenbaum; Max Greenfield · Ted Birenbaum; Jack Champion · Jack Davis; Stephanie Beatriz · Ms. Parker; Bebe Neuwirth · Linda; Steve Buscemi · Dale
- Genres
- musical; teen drama
- Themes
- coming-of-age; family; illness
- Tone and mood
- drama
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; high school
- Reception
- The film has received overall positive reviews from critics.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 73 · scale: 100 · review count: 11
- Production trivia
- The film was produced by Happy Madison Productions.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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