In this episode of Film Curious, Ashley and Nicole do a deep dive on a smaller, lesser seen sci-fi adventure film that came out earlier this year, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, directed by Gore Verbinski (the legend who brought you the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films) and starring Sam Rockwell, Juno Temple, Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, and Zazie Beetz.
We had a lot of fun with this movie…but the subject of its story did bring up some fears and feelings that most of humanity is grappling with right now. We talk about technology and how this film’s closer to our reality than the dystopian imagining it may seem to be; is the purpose of life to be entertained; what happens when tech and government mingle; and is it too late to stop AI? And how the movie manages to weave all these ideas and commentary into one (fairly) cohesive story.
⚠️ We get into spoilers at 13:57! Streaming on Hulu📺
⏱️Timestamps
00:00 Highlight Clip from Episode
00:57 Intro to the Episode & Film
02:48 The Movie’s Take on AI & Getting to See the Movie In Theaters
07:56 The Beginning of the Movie & Sam Rockwell’s Character’s Monologue About the Future
13:57 Spoiler Discussion Begins⚠️
14:02 How the Film Feels Like a Graphic Novel, Things You Notice on a Second Watch, & the Striking Visuals of the Film
20:35 The Movie’s Subtle (and Not So Subtle) Signals of What’s Going to Happen
26:58 The Film’s Cynical View on AI & Safety Regulations Surrounding It Yet Still Understanding AI’s Appeal
31:36 Susan’s Storyline, How It Relates the Dangers of Tech and Government Intertwining, & How We’ve Conflated the Purpose of Life to Be Constantly Entertained
39:14 The Story’s Multiple Vignettes and How They’re Working Together
50:54 The Ending, Can AI Ever Be Trusted, & How This Film’s Still Joyful While Acknowledging Humanity’s Struggles
59:07 How Do You Uplift Smaller Work in an Algorithm That Drives Us to Be Extreme?
01:01:11 Wrap Up | The Beauty in the Film Medium & Storytelling Projecting Futures in Hopes to Prevent the Worst Case Scenario
01:11:18 What Movies We Might Be Covering Next
01:13:33 Outro - Thanks for Listening & Don’t Forget to Subscribe! 🔔
🎬Subscribe so you never miss a new film discovery!
Resources & References:
Gore Verbinski Interview: From Big Budget Pirates to Ambitious Indie Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die
Making Of GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE - Best Of Behind The Scenes & Set Visit With Sam Rockwell
Interviews With "Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die" Cast & Director Gore Verbinski
Supergirl (2026)
Pirates of the Caribbean | Original Trilogy (2003-2007
Tokyo Ghost (2015-2016) | Rick Remender & Sean Murphy
I Love Boosters (2026)
Avatar Flight of the Passage | Walt Disney World, Animal Kingdom
Ted Lasso (2020-Present)
Black Mirror (2011-Present)
Is God Is (2026)
The Starling Girl (2023)
Philip K. Dick
The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) by Margaret Atwood
The Bride (2026)
The Lost Daughter (2021)
