Anime Reference in Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026)

A quick review of the movie Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die and a pop culture reference shout-out

NOTE: The movie is rated "R." Watch the trailer at your own discretion. This post contains light spoilers for the movie.

I just watched Gore Verbinski's latest film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, and I rate it 5 stars (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) and two big thumbs way, way up! The film opens on February 13 with previews on February 12. I caught an early screening at Nicole Kidman's favorite theater AMC.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die is a sci-fi comedy about an unnamed man from the future (played by Sam Rockwell) traveling back in time to circa 2026 Norm's Dinner to recruit several people to help him change the future. Part Ground Hog's Day, part escort mission, all hilarious, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die has an original amazing story, great visuals effects and animation (no AI!), some witty social commentary, and an over-the-top ending. The ensemble cast includes Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chaudhry, and Juno Temple. Go watch this movie asap!

Anime Reference Spoilers ahead!!!

So... about that anime reference. There is this scene about 30% or so in the movie where Susan, a grieving mom (played by Juno Temple), is trying to bond with her newly cloned son. (Her real son was killed as result of a school shooting, and the writing managed to make it funny. 😂) She brings him home and settles him in front of the TV in the living room. Guess what's on the TV?

The TV shows an episode of Attack on Titan, where the titans are running through the forest. I believe it's from the final season. The movie definitely says which season it's from in the end credits along with another pop culture reference Mars Attacks!. (God, it's been a long time since I watched Mars Attacks!. I remember seeing that movie in theaters too! I miss the 90s.) So, that's cool. Also, Susan got to rebuild her son, and in building her son like he's a computer or phone or something, the guy walking her through the process asked her to describe him, and she says that he's "weird" but "a good kind of weird." Cut to the living room scene like several minutes after that, and...Looks like anime will never not be synonymous with "weird" and "eccentric."😂

Anyway, that's all I got for this post.

Good Luck.

Have Fun.

Go watch the movie!