Did Sunny Sandler Actually Sing in ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’?

Sunny Sandler is proving she has more than just a famous last name to offer, and her newest project puts that talent front and center. The 17 year old actress, 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 role marks a big step forward for Sunny Sandler, who previously appeared in ‘You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah’. 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.

Sunny Sandler Singing in ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’

Yes, Sunny Sandler does sing in ‘Don’t Say Good Luck,’ and it is a central part of her performance. The film follows Sophie as she lands the lead role of Jenna in her school’s staging of ‘Waitress,’ setting up an emotional showstopper built around the Sara Bareilles ballad ‘She Used to Be Mine’.

Critics have noted that her vocal approach leans intimate rather than powerhouse. One review observed that she sings softly when she could be belting, a style that reads as more befitting a movie actor than a stage performer. That gentler delivery has become part of the conversation around her performance, with some viewers finding it endearing and others wishing for a bigger vocal moment.

Sunny is not the only Sandler connected to the music here either. Reviewers pointed out that 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. That father daughter musical thread has added an extra layer of charm for longtime fans of the family.

Beyond the film itself, clips of Sunny singing alongside her dad in real life, including performances during his stand up tour stops, have circulated widely online, fueling even more interest in her vocal abilities heading into the movie’s release.

The Plot Behind ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’

‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ is a 2026 musical teen drama directed and co-produced by Julia Hart, with Adam Sandler, Jackie Sandler, Jordan Horowitz and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones also producing. The story centers on Sophie, a 16 year old theater kid preparing for her leading role in ‘Waitress’ when family drama suddenly overtakes the drama on stage after her mother is diagnosed with cancer.

The cast includes Melanie Lynskey, Max Greenfield, Stephanie Beatriz, Bebe Neuwirth and Steve Buscemi alongside Sunny Sandler. Jack Champion, known for his recent ‘Avatar’ film roles, plays Sophie’s co-star and love interest, and the two reportedly share a memorable harmonizing moment during the film’s climactic musical sequence.

The title itself nods to an old theater superstition, since wishing a performer good luck before a show is considered bad luck, with ‘Break a leg’ used instead. That detail plays out early in the film as Sophie corrects her mother for saying the wrong phrase before an audition.

Critical Reception and Fan Reaction

The film has generally been well received, with critics praising Lynskey’s performance as the emotional anchor of the story. One review noted that the film manages to bring its tonal balancing act, from musical theater excitement to a serious health crisis, across the finish line without anyone embarrassing themselves.

Fans have taken to social media to react to Sunny’s musical moments, with clips of her performance in the film’s ‘Waitress’ sequences going viral. Several viewers highlighted the harmony moment between Sunny and Jack Champion as a standout, calling it an unexpected highlight of the movie.

The film also carries a personal connection for its screenwriter, since the coming of age story was reportedly inspired by a local screenwriter’s own days as a high school musical star in Washington D.C. Netflix has described the project as a blend of drama, comedy, music and tearjerker territory, a mix that appears to be resonating with the platform’s built in Sandler family fan base.

Sunny Sandler’s Growing Career

Sunny Sandler was born on November 2, 2008, in California, and has built her career largely within projects tied to her father’s Happy Madison Productions, including ‘Pixels,’ ‘Leo’ and ‘Grown Ups’. ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ represents her most vocally demanding role to date, with multiple original songs credited to her performance.

Her older sister Sadie Sandler has also frequently appeared alongside their father in film, and the two sisters have occasionally performed together at family events and benefit concerts. That pattern of the Sandler family blending real life musical moments with on screen performances seems to be continuing with this latest release.

Whether audiences see this as the start of a genuine singing career or simply a one off role built for the story, ‘Don’t Say Good Luck’ has undeniably put Sunny Sandler’s vocal chops on display in a way none of her past projects have. As the film continues to find its audience on Netflix, the reaction to her performance is likely to shape how she is cast going forward.

Did Sunny Sandler’s take on ‘She Used to Be Mine’ hit you the way it hit critics, or do you think she should have gone bigger with the vocals?