TV Review: ‘Lucky’ | Moviefone

Anya Taylor-Joy in ‘Lucky’, premiering July 15, 2026 on Apple TV.

The new crime thriller miniseries ‘Lucky’, which is based on the book of the same name by Marissa Stapley and was created by Jonathan Tropper (‘The Wrecking Crew’), premieres on Apple TV July 15th.

Air Date: July 14th, 2026

The series stars Anya Taylor-Joy (‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’), Annette Bening (‘Captain Marvel’), Timothy Olyphant (‘Justified’), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (‘King Richard’), Drew Starkey (‘Outer Banks’), and William Fichtner (‘Heat’).

Related Article: Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult Talk Dark Comedy ‘The Menu’

Initial Thoughts

Annette Bening in ‘Lucky’, premiering July 15, 2026 on Apple TV.

‘Lucky’ is an entertaining and exhilarating crime thriller that is both smart and fun. Adapted from author Marissa Stapley’s book of the same name by showrunner Jonathan Tropper, the miniseries moves fast but spends enough time with its colorful characters for the audience to invest in what happens to them and adds a few genuine surprises along the way.

The miniseries boasts an excellent all-star cast that is led by Anya Taylor-Joy, who gives her best performance since ‘The Menu’. Taylor-Joy lights up the screen as Lucky and gives a commanding performance as a character that is both vulnerable and dangerous. The series also explores her estranged relationship with her father played by Timothy Olyphant, and her “cat and mouse” game with Annette Bening’s local mob boss and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor’s FBI agent.

Story and Direction

‘Lucky’ creator and showrunner Jonathan Tropper.

The series begins with Lucky (Taylor-Joy) on the run from the authorities and then flashes back to show us how she got to this moment. A day earlier, the young con artist is celebrating with her husband Carrie Armstrong (Drew Starkey) in Las Vegas when he suddenly disappears after stealing a large amount of money from the casino. Now, she is being pursued by an FBI agent named Rand (Ellis-Taylor) and a mob boss named Priscilla Matheson (Bening), who has a surprising connection to Carrie.

Matheson is responsible for recovering the money, which really belongs to another powerful gangster named Whitaker (William Fichtner). With nowhere else to turn, Lucky contacts her estranged father John (Olyphant) for advice, who is currently in prison for his own crimes as a con artist. Relying on the strict set of rules that he taught her, Lucky sets out to find her husband and recover the money before the law or the mob catches up with her. What ensues is a race against time where alliances shift, and surprises are revealed.

At only seven episodes long, the miniseries does not have any filler episodes commonly found in streaming shows like this, which is refreshing. The story moves at a quick pace, accelerated by the action-packed plot, but allows room for exploration of most of the main characters. Tropper’s scripts are smart and full of witty banter and lay the groundwork for the show’s tone which each episodic director follows like a blueprint. Some of the show’s twists and turns can be jarring, but ultimately work with the overall story.

Cast and Performances

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in ‘Lucky’, premiering July 15, 2026 on Apple TV.

While the show features a fantastic cast, Anya Taylor-Joy is front and center as the title character and leads the series with a commanding presence. She brings both competence and vulnerability to the role and has a great emotional arc with Timothy Olyphant. She also holds her own in scenes with the legendary Annette Bening.

For her role, Bening takes a turn we haven’t seen much from the actress, playing a ruthless mob boss with a fierce intensity. While her character is somewhat limited, she looms heavy over the series and has a great onscreen chemistry with Taylor-Joy and Olyphant. She’s particularly intimidating in her scenes with Starkey and is equally and surprisingly vulnerable opposite Fichtner’s mysterious character.

Timothy Olyphant in ‘Lucky’, premiering July 15, 2026 on Apple TV.

Timothy Olyphant is perfectly cast as Lucky’s charming con artist dad, John. As a father, John thinks that he has prepared his daughter well for the real world and its heartbreaking when he discovers he may have done the opposite. Yet, his deceptive side continues to get the best of him, leaving the audience and Lucky to doubt his loyalty.

Oscar nominated actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor gives a compelling and forceful performance as FBI agent Billie Rand, who is hunting down Lucky and soon discovers she is in way over her head. However, the script does the actress no favors and does not spend enough time fleshing out the character beyond her role as a tough FBI agent. Speaking of limited roles, Drew Starkey is very good in his scenes with Bening and Taylor-Joy, and William Fichtner is imposing as Whitaker, but neither actor has enough time on screen to make a real impact.

Final Thoughts

Drew Starkey in ‘Lucky’, premiering July 15, 2026 on Apple TV.

In the end, ‘Lucky’ is not a perfect miniseries, but it does feature some interesting characters in an intriguing story. Taylor-Joy is mesmerizing to watch, while Olyphant, Bening and the rest elevate the material and hit the right tone for a fun and entertaining crime series.

‘Lucky’ receives a score of 85 out of 100.

‘Lucky’ premieres on Apple TV July 15, 2026.

What is the plot of ‘Lucky’?

When a multi-million-dollar heist goes sideways, con artist Lucky (Anya Taylor-Joy) is forced to go on the run. Pursued by both an FBI agent (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) and a ruthless crime boss (Annette Bening), Lucky must fight for her life, and a way out.