Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die Parents Guide: Is It Kid-Friendly?

​With Caution. While Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die (2026) is a high-concept sci-fi comedy with a thrilling premise, it is strictly intended for mature audiences. The film features pervasive profanity, grisly dark comedy violence, and heavy themes regarding school shootings and child loss that will be deeply unsettling for younger viewers.

​Quick-Scan Safety Card

Category Advertisement	Rating	Details
MPA Rating	R Advertisement	Rated R for pervasive language, violence, and some grisly images.
Target Age	16+	Requires high emotional maturity to process the cynical satire.
Violence	High Advertisement	Stylized but “grisly” (e.g., stabbings, kinetic action).
Sex/Nudity	Low	Brief suggestive content; no graphic nudity reported.
Language	High	Constant F-bombs and aggressive “R-rated” rants.
Positive Role Models Advertisement	2/5	Characters are desperate and flawed; focus is on survival.

What is Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die About? (No Spoilers)

​Directed by Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean, Rango), this film is a kinetic, “Groundhog Day” meets Terminator sci-fi satire. The story kicks off in a Los Angeles diner when a disheveled “Man From the Future” (Sam Rockwell) arrives to recruit a group of unsuspecting patrons including Haley Lu Richardson and Michael Peña to stop a future apocalypse.

​Beyond the time-travel mechanics, the film is a searing critique of our current technology addiction. It explores the emotional fallout of a world where people are “plugged in” to video games and social media at the cost of human connection. Parents should be aware of a heavy subplot involving a mother (Juno Temple) grieving a child lost to a school shooting, as well as the depiction of high-schoolers as “tech-zombies.” It targets the anxiety of modern parenting: the fear that we are losing our children to the screens in their hands.

​Why is Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die Rated R?

​The official MPA rating of R is primarily driven by “pervasive language” and “grisly images.” Unlike Verbinski’s more family-friendly Pirates franchise, this is an independent, “gonzo” production where he lets the R-rating fly.

​The “language” isn’t just background noise; it is integral to Sam Rockwell’s frantic, high-stress performance. The “grisly images” include dark-comedy gore like a man being stabbed with a meat thermometer that might be too intense for those under 16. While some teens might handle the action, the nihilistic tone and the commentary on normalized tragedy make it a heavy lift for the uninitiated.

​Detailed Content Breakdown: The “Nitty Gritty”

​Violence & Gore

​Gore Verbinski is a master of kinetic action, and here he uses it to highlight the absurdity of the “apocalypse.”

• ​Combat: Characters engage in high-speed tactical combat involving both modern firearms and futuristic technology.
• ​Grisly Images: A character is seen with a meat thermometer stabbed into his head (used as a gag about his body temperature).
• ​Simulated Violence: There are depictions of a dystopian future where humanity is “harvested” or enslaved by AI, often shown in flickering, disturbing montages.
• ​The “Zombie” Element: A subplot features high school students acting as mindless “tech-zombies,” which leads to moments of jarring, physical confrontation.

​Profanity & Language

​The dialogue is aggressive.

• ​F-words: Expect constant use of the F-word, often in high-stress rants by the Man From the Future.
• ​Social Insults: Characters frequently belittle one another with crude insults regarding intelligence and social status.
• ​Religious Exclamations: Frequent “God d–n” and “Jesus” used as expletives.

​Sexual Content & Nudity

​This is the “lightest” category of concern for the film, but it isn’t “clean.”

• ​Suggestive Dialogue: There is brief sexual humor and innuendo between the diner patrons.
• ​Outfits: Some characters wear revealing “apocalypse chic” clothing, though there is no explicit nudity.
• ​Relationship Themes: One character struggles with a breakup caused by her “WiFi allergy,” leading to some mature discussions about intimacy and physical touch.

​Substance Use

• ​Alcohol: As the film takes place in a diner/bar setting, several characters are seen drinking beer or coffee throughout the siege.
• ​Smoking: Background characters are seen smoking in the dystopian future sequences.

​Age-by-Age Viewing Guide

​Toddlers & Preschoolers (0-5)

​Verdict: Hard No. The pacing is too fast, the noise level is high, and the Sam Rockwell character is intentionally frightening and unhinged. There is nothing for this demographic here.

​Elementary (6-10)

​Verdict: Not Recommended. The “Scare Factor” isn’t monsters; it’s the cynical reality. Kids this age may find the concept of an AI takeover and the “meat thermometer” violence confusing and scary. Furthermore, the school shooting subplot is far too heavy for this developmental stage.

​Tweens & Teens (11-15)

​Verdict: Use Extreme Parental Discretion. Relatability: Teens will find the critique of phone addiction and social media fascinating. However, the Social Influence of the pervasive swearing and the dark humor requires a conversation. If your teen is sensitive to themes of “existential dread” or school violence, skip this one.

Expert Note: The film’s “don’t die” stakes are intense and may cause anxiety in younger teens who struggle to separate satire from reality.

​Positive Messages & Educational Value

​The bottom line is that Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is a media literacy powerhouse.

• ​Resilience: The film emphasizes that even after failing 100 times, you have to “keep playing” to save humanity.
• ​Tech Literacy: It serves as a great starting point to discuss how algorithms and blue light impact our dopamine levels and social connections.
• ​Empathy: Juno Temple’s character highlights the need for community support in the face of tragedy.

​5 Discussion Questions for Families

1. ​The “Man From the Future” says we are “plugged in” to a simulation. Do you think we spend too much time on our phones?
2. ​Why did the director use a “meat thermometer” as a joke during a violent scene? What does that say about the movie’s tone?
3. ​Ingrid (Haley Lu Richardson) has a “WiFi allergy.” How does her life change when she can’t use technology?
4. ​If you had to recruit five strangers to save the world, what qualities would you look for?
5. ​The title is a common gamer phrase (GLHFDD). Why do you think they chose this as a title for a movie about the “end of the world”?

​Common Questions About Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die

​Is Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die too scary for a 13-year-old?

​For a mature 13-year-old who enjoys sci-fi action, it may be manageable, but the pervasive language and school shooting themes are the real “red flags,” not the “scares.”

​Does the movie have a post-credits scene?

​Yes, there is a brief mid-credits scene that offers a final comedic beat regarding the Sam Rockwell character’s mission.

​Are there any strobe light warnings in Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die?

​Yes. The film uses frequent high-contrast lighting and “digital glitched” transitions during the time-travel.