Sunny Sandler’s Singing in ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ Is Real, and It Shapes the Netflix Film’s Emotional Core

Netflix’s newest coming of age drama has audiences asking a very specific question about its star. Sunny Sandler, the 17 year old actress and daughter of Adam Sandler, stars in Netflix’s ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ as Sophie Birenbaum, a theater kid chasing the lead role in her high school production of ‘Waitress’. Fans have been buzzing over whether Sunny actually sings in the film, and the answer has become one of the most talked about parts of the movie’s rollout.

The short answer is yes, and it matters more than a passing curiosity. This time, she is not just acting, she is carrying musical numbers in a film built around the emotional highs and lows of a school theater production. That detail has turned into a genuine talking point for a movie that leans on its lead actress far more than a typical teen ensemble picture.

Sophie Birenbaum’s Journey to the Spotlight in ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’

Sandler plays Sophie Birenbaum, a theater kid finally close to getting what she wants when devastating news about her mother changes the tenor of her life. The plot revolves around 15-year-old Sophie Birenbaum, who has been told the news that her mother has terminal cancer after having previously thought it was in remission. That collision of a personal triumph with a family crisis is the engine of the story, rather than a side plot layered on top of a typical high school musical.

Directed by Julia Hart, the musical comedy drama follows a teenager whose biggest moment on stage collides with life-changing events at home. From the opening minutes, it’s clear the spring of 2026 is going to be big in the life of high school sophomore Sophie Birenbaum, a consummate theater kid who has been practicing her audition number for the school’s production of ‘Waitress’.

The project is based on a semi-autobiographical story concept by Laura Hankin, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside Hart and Jordan Horowitz. The screenplay draws on Hankin’s own writing background, while Hart and Horowitz, a married creative duo, previously collaborated on projects including ‘Stargirl’ and ‘I’m Your Woman’.

The film was shot in New Jersey, with production records confirming filming took place in Jersey City, along with reported work in Cranford and Paramus. That grounded, unglamorous setting fits a story that is more interested in a family kitchen and a school auditorium than any polished Broadway backdrop.

The Truth Behind Sunny Sandler’s Vocals in the Film

Yes, Sunny Sandler does sing in ‘Don’t Say Good Luck,’ and it is a central part of her performance. The film’s music blends original score with a stellar playlist of modern pop hits, indie rock, and classics, all built around the on stage and rehearsal room performances Sandler leads.

Critics who have already reviewed the film have weighed in specifically on how she handles the material. Variety described her vocals as bright and plaintive without musical theater affectation, noting that Hart gives her a full, climactically blossoming musical sequence built around a signature Sara Bareilles ballad. That kind of praise suggests the singing was treated as a genuine performance choice rather than a technical hurdle to work around.

Not every outlet framed her voice the same way. One AP review noted she sings softly when she could be belting, a quality it described as fitting a movie actor more than a stage actor. Another review pointed out that she doesn’t exactly have a voice built for singing on stage, but still manages to pull off most of the musical’s Sara Bareilles written songs.

Sunny is not the only Sandler connected to the music, since Adam Sandler himself appears in the film and, despite not having a voice built for stage singing, still manages to pull off most of the musical’s Sara Bareilles written songs. Clips of Sunny singing alongside her father in real life, including performances during his stand up tour stops, have circulated online, adding another layer of interest to her vocal work in the movie.

A Cast Built Around Family in ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’

Julia Hart directs a cast that also includes Melanie Lynskey, Max Greenfield, Jack Champion, Stephanie Beatriz, Bebe Neuwirth, and Steve Buscemi. Additional cast members include Scarlett Estevez, Emma McNulty, Elyse Bell, and Jon Lovitz.

The casting of Sandler herself came with little debate behind the scenes. When it came time to cast Sophie, according to a statement Hart gave to Netflix’s Tudum, Sunny Sandler was the first and only person the filmmakers thought of to play the role. Sandler has said in that same conversation with Tudum that she knew as soon as she heard about the idea that she loved it and wanted to do it.

Steve Buscemi plays Dale, appearing opposite Bebe Neuwirth as Linda, marking his first turn playing a grandfather on screen. Hart has emphasized the importance of family across the production, noting that many of the cast and crew’s own family members appear as extras, with photos from across the production featured inside the walls of the Birenbaum family deli set.

The film is produced by Happy Madison Productions, Range Media Partners, and Original Headquarters, with Adam Sandler, Jackie Sandler, Jordan Horowitz, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, and Fred Berger serving as producers. That level of family involvement, both on camera and behind it, has become part of how the movie has been discussed since its release.

How Critics Are Responding to ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’

‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ premiered exclusively on Netflix on August 14, 2026, running for approximately 110 minutes and carrying a PG-13 rating for thematic material, some strong language, teen drinking, and suggestive references. The response so far has generally centered on Sandler’s performance as the film’s anchor.

One review called it a sensitive snapshot of coming of age amid grief, noting it rings as true and clear as any Broadway showstopper where it counts most, in its tenderness toward Sophie, her mother, and her art. Another framed the film as giving genuine soul to a mother daughter heartbreaker, with Sandler and Lynskey both singled out for their work.

A Third Coast Review write up conceded the material is fairly standard and Hallmark level in places, but credited Lynskey with elevating both the story and Sandler’s performance around her. Even reviews with reservations about the script have generally agreed that the musical sequences land, and that Sandler’s singing is a meaningful part of why.

For a family so associated with broad comedy, ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ is being discussed as something closer to a genuine dramatic showcase for its youngest star. Now that the film is streaming and Sophie’s story has played out in full, how do you think Sunny Sandler’s singing measures up against the rest of her performance in ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’?