It looks like Keanu Reeves’ new movie is living up to its name, as after posting a reasonable enough 80% Rotten Tomatoes score following its festival premiere, Good Fortune has now improved its rating as the film’s wider release approaches.
Everyone loves Keanu Reeves, that is not in doubt, but after his John Wick years, can the star return to more gentle, comedic roles? Bill & Ted Face the Music was a success based on the nostalgic effect of the belated sequel, but Good Fortune is a brand new movie, without an existing IP to draw audiences from. However, the early reviews have continued to be positive, and while the film has the “makings of a cult classic” for some due to “many inconsistencies,” its Tomatometer score just continues to rise. At the time of writing, the score stands at 85%.
Among the reviews, Michael Rechtshaffen of The Hollywood Reporter praised the cast and gave the film a “fresh” score, but noted, “The end result can’t escape feeling like a hodgepodge, incapable of cohesively blending the satirical elements with the earnest messaging foremost on its mind.” For Barry Hertz of The Globe and Mail, the film better than that, as he wrote:
“We should praise the heavens that Lionsgate presented Aziz Ansari with enough money to make the consistently funny Good Fortune for the big screen.”
Geek Vibes Nation’s Gaius Bolling seemed to hit the nail on the head with his review, saying, “it wouldn’t be surprising if Good Fortune found life down the road as a cult classic about living your life to the fullest and learning a bit more from our fellow man. In times like this, maybe that’s something we really need.”
‘Good Fortune’ Could Be a Sleeper Hit
Keanu Reeves proved his box office worth during his time in the John Wick saga, but his new movie is a very different prospect. Joining forces with Seth Rogen, Reeves plays an inept but well-meaning angel who meddles in the lives of Arj (Aziz Ansari, who also directs the picture) and his boss, Jeff (Seth Rogen), using his powers to do a body swap on the pair. Yes, it’s a variation on the Freaky Friday scenario.
The film had a troubled production thanks to the Hollywood strikes in 2023, but it is finally about to get its dues. Ansari’s track record could do with some good fortune, as his debut directorial effort, Being Mortal, ended up being shut down following a controversy over the alleged on-set behavior of star Bill Murray. This time, though, Good Fortune will actually be a movie that gets released, and will be arriving in cinemas on October 17, 2025.
While comedy movies have not been a huge draw in cinemas recently, the combined popularity of Reeves and Rogen – who is coming off the success of Apple TV series, The Studio – could end up being a partnership that helps the movie find an audience in what has turned out to be a lull month in theaters.
- Release Date
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October 17, 2025
- Runtime
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98 Minutes