If you’re looking for something loud and over-the-top with plenty of action, Jackpot! might provide some fleeting entertainment. However, don’t expect it to offer much coherence. The year is 2030, and we’re in Los Angeles, where a new lottery game is causing chaos.
The California Grand Lottery was introduced as an afterthought to the so-called Great Depression that occurred in 2026. The twist? If you have the winning ticket, you must survive until sunset, as anyone around you can track your location to claim it. But there’s a catch—no guns allowed. Jackpot takes off with this whimsical, Squid Game-inspired, video game-like premise, featuring Awkwafina as the unfortunate protagonist with a billion-dollar target on her head.
Director Paul Feig struck gold with his 2011 film Bridesmaids, which focused on a group of women coming to terms with their realities. Unfortunately, that sense of reality is entirely absent in Jackpot, where action-comedy takes precedence over character development. We first meet Awkwafina’s character, Katie Kim, an aspiring actress who gets pickpocketed in broad daylight. Oblivious to the lottery’s existence, she unexpectedly becomes the lucky winner during a disastrous audition, and chaos ensues.
But here’s the kicker: Katie Kim doesn’t even want to be rich. So, what does she want? Even she isn’t sure. Enter Noel, a freelance bodyguard played by John Cena, who arrives just in time to save her from being knocked out. His deal? He won’t kill her but will only protect her for a 10 percent commission.
Katie reluctantly agrees, still clueless about the unfolding madness. The film then dives into elaborate action sequences, which unfortunately fail to elicit any laughs. Simu Liu also makes an appearance as a shady head of the Lottery Protection Agency, eager to get a share of the winnings. Cameos from Machine Gun Kelly and Dolly de Leon do little to bring order to the film’s frantic and unnecessarily exaggerated premise.
In conclusion, despite Awkwafina’s best efforts with her physical comedy and impressive action scenes, Jackpot! is a mess that doesn’t know what it wants to convey about the future or the unsettling capitalism it portrays. The film attempts to laugh in the face of despair, but without a clear message or good humor, there’s little to enjoy.
The creators of Jackpot! seem to be blind to these deeper questions, expecting the audience to simply enjoy the chaotic ride and cheer for the characters to survive. Unfortunately, Jackpot! fails to hit the mark and squanders the potential of its talented cast, particularly the ever-reliable Awkwafina.
