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Lucky Break

Play trailer Poster for Lucky Break PG-13 2002 1h 47m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
44% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
From the director of The Full Monty comes a comedy about a prison escape with a musical twist. Small-time crook Jimmy botches a bank robbery, lands in prison and stages a musical that turns out to be Act One of the perfect escape plan. But it's Act Two that's stumped Jimmy. His leading lady has captured his heart, and with one leg already over the wall, he's got to come up with a new ending ... as the curtain falls fast on his freedom.
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Lucky Break

Lucky Break

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Critics Consensus

Lucky Break fails to do anything new with The Full Monty formula.

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Critics Reviews

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Loren King Chicago Tribune Jul 20, 2002
2/4
The formulaic script, stocked with not one truly menacing inmate, echoes far too many sentimental post-Full Monty imports. Go to Full Review
Terry Lawson Detroit Free Press May 31, 2002
2/4
A prison comedy that never really busts out of its comfy little cell. Go to Full Review
Ann Hornaday Washington Post May 13, 2002
It's what the Brits themselves might call fair to middling. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Aug 8, 2005
2/5
Christopher Null Filmcritic.com Oct 6, 2004
3/5
Eric Lurio Greenwich Village Gazette Nov 7, 2003
2/5
Well, this is definitely a disappointment. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Penelope Y @RT31899006 Sep 14, 2025 I quite enjoyed this film- there’s always something distinctly different about a British film compared to an American one that I alway enjoy, and this captures it perfectly. The gritty characters, dark cheeky humour, and colourful personalities make for an entertaining watch. Somehow, they all come together to stage a heist and break out of prison, with an unexpected romance blooming along the way. The story finishes with an unexpected way. A great choice if you’re after something light, funny, and feel-good, filled with sharp lines and a brilliant British cast including Timothy Spall and Bill Nighy. See more
isla s @RT89656869 Sep 2, 2022 I found this really quite funny. There's a good cast with a number of well known British actors, including James Nesbitt, Timothy Spall and Bill Nighy. The plot is amusing and of course some of the scenes/situations are somewhat unlikely (aka absurd) but thats where most of the comedy comes from. I enjoyed listening to James Nesbitt singing along, as he rehearsed the play that the film centres on the convicts putting on. I thought James 'Jimmy' Hands was quite a likeable character. I suppose in a way I admired the sense of naive optimism shown by some characters. Its an easy and enjoyable watch - one I'd recommend. See more
Jul 1, 2013 A charming inoffensive film that features one of the best prison-based musicals of the life of Admiral Nelson. See more
May 29, 2013 A gang of crooks make use of musical loving warden to escape prison. Director of The Full Monty tries to replicate the success of the previous film by making another using more or less the same formula. The outcome is not as successful, with predictable plot development including a love affair between the lead crook and a pretty anger-management counelor, and awkward use of its setting., which makes the whole thing look shallow. See more
May 19, 2011 'What is Tomato in Italian? Pomodoro...Apple of Love' And that is all!! its a nice commedy that grows in you the more you go through the film. SOme nice characters developped, but a liitle too theatrecal.. It a feel good movie...nice See more
Sep 29, 2010 It's a shame about the story because the British cast assembled for this rom-com in an offbeat setting is very good. See more
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Lucky Break

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Cast & Crew

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Peter Cattaneo

Director

James Nesbitt

Jimmy

Olivia Williams

Annabel

Timothy Spall

Cliff Gumbell

Bill Nighy

Roger 'Rog' Chamberlain

Lennie James

Rudy 'Rud' Guscott

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Lucky Break

Lucky Break (2001) Lucky Break (2001) (Left to right) James Nesbitt as Jimmy and Frank Harper as John Tombes in LUCKY BREAK. (Left to right) Olivia Williams as Annabel and James Nesbitt as Jimmy in LUCKY BREAK. Scene from the film LUCKY BREAK. Scene from the film LUCKY BREAK. Scene from the film LUCKY BREAK. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis From the director of The Full Monty comes a comedy about a prison escape with a musical twist. Small-time crook Jimmy botches a bank robbery, lands in prison and stages a musical that turns out to be Act One of the perfect escape plan. But it's Act Two that's stumped Jimmy. His leading lady has captured his heart, and with one leg already over the wall, he's got to come up with a new ending ... as the curtain falls fast on his freedom.
Director
Peter Cattaneo
Producer
Peter Cattaneo, Barnaby Thompson
Screenwriter
Ronan Bennett
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Miramax Films, FilmFour Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sexual References|Brief Strong Language)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 5, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 1, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$54.6K
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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