Lucky
Based on the novel by Marissa Stapley
Miniseries
Crime Thriller
Now Streaming
Creator: Jonathan Tropper
Executive Producer: Reese Witherspoon
Platform: Apple TV+
Premiere: July 15, 2026 — first two episodes now streaming, then weekly through August 19
What Critics Are Saying
The early numbers land on "generally favorable" — Rotten Tomatoes has it at 79%, Metacritic at 66, and IMDb users are sitting around 6.8. Rotten Tomatoes' critics consensus credits Anya Taylor-Joy with carrying an entertaining but uneven ride, one that delivers on action even when the plotting overreaches.
Not every reviewer is as forgiving. The Guardian's take was considerably rougher, arguing the show can't decide whether it wants to be a breezy chase caper or a serious meditation on betrayal and womanhood, and ends up committing to neither. Its praise landed almost entirely on the performances — particularly Annette Bening and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — rather than the writing.
The Cast
Anya Taylor-Joy as Luciana "Lucky" Armstrong
Annette Bening as Priscilla Masterson, a dangerous mob leader and Lucky's mother-in-law
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Agent Billie Rand, the FBI agent chasing her down
Timothy Olyphant as John Armstrong, Lucky's imprisoned father
Drew Starkey as Cary Masterson, Lucky's husband and Priscilla's son
About the Book
Marissa Stapley's Lucky follows a skilled grifter who pulls off a million-dollar heist with her boyfriend, only to be left on her own when things go sideways. A whim lottery ticket turns out to be worth millions — but cashing it in means turning herself in for her crimes. Reconciling with her estranged father, tracking down the mother who left her behind, and confronting the man she thought she loved all complicate her shot at a clean escape. The novel holds a 3.58 average across nearly 78,000 Goodreads ratings.
Our Take
The critical split makes sense once you watch it: this is a show that wants credit for both a fun chase and a serious character study, and doesn't fully commit to either. What keeps it watchable is the cast — Taylor-Joy's magnetism carries the pace, while Bening and Ellis-Taylor bring far more weight than the script strictly earns. If you're in it for the performances and the momentum, it delivers. If you want the emotional depth the marketing promises, temper your expectations.
