Sunny Sandler steps into the spotlight opposite Melanie Lynskey in Netflix's 'Don't Say Good Luck'
Sunny Sandler takes centre stage in Don't Say Good Luck, a coming-of-age dramedy arriving on Netflix on August 14, 2026. The film stars Melanie Lynskey as her mother, whose cancer returns — a terminal diagnosis she keeps secret from her daughter. Produced by Happy Madison, Adam Sandler's production company, the film marks a notable step up for the younger Sandler, who previously appeared opposite her father in the 2023 Netflix comedy You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah.
The story follows Sophie Birenbaum, a high school drama student angling for the lead in her school's production of the Broadway musical Waitress. Sunny Sandler plays Sophie and performs several songs from Waitress in the film, displaying what Deadline's review describes as an impressive singing voice. Lynskey plays Elizabeth, Sophie's mother, whose illness becomes the story's emotional engine. Stephanie Beatriz plays the school's drama teacher, with Max Greenfield, Jack Champion, and Bebe Neuwirth rounding out the cast (Deadline; Deadline).
Julia Hart directed the film, collaborating on the script with her husband and producing partner Jordan Horowitz and screenwriter Laura Hankin. Hankin wrote the first draft and the story is based on something that happened to her (Roger Ebert; Deadline). Hart previously explored the world of high school drama in Miss Stevens, a 2016 film that featured a young Timothée Chalamet. Netflix Tudum identifies Don't Say Good Luck as the first project from its Original Headquarters initiative, with Better Than the Movies named as the second (Netflix Tudum).
Netflix released the official trailer on July 23, 2026, featuring Sandler, Lynskey, and Greenfield. The film carries a PG-13 rating on Netflix's platform (Netflix). The streaming giant had previously slotted the film into its 2026 film slate back in January, describing Sophie as a character "ready for the spotlight" (Deadline).
For Sunny Sandler, who turned 18 in November 2025, the role represents her most substantial screen credit to date. With Lynskey — an actor whose dramatic range is well established — cast as her mother, and Hart behind the camera, the film pairs a young performer with a creative team that has a track record in intimate, character-driven storytelling.
Deadline published its review on August 12, 2026, two days ahead of the film's premiere. Whether the film connects with audiences is for Netflix's viewing data to settle in the weeks after release. For now, the pieces are in place: a true story, a Broadway musical backdrop, and a young actor getting her moment in the spotlight.
