Lucky 13
Lucky 13
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Lucky 13
Directed byChris Hall
Written byAri Schlossberg
Chris Hall
Eric Swelstad (story)
Ira Heffler (story)
Produced byAlan Kaplan
Chris Hall
Richard Cooper
StarringBrad Hunt
Harland Williams
Lauren Graham
Sasha Alexander
Debra Jo Rupp
John Doe
Kaley Cuoco
Taryn Manning
CinematographyMichael Barrett
Music byHal Lindes
Herman Beeftink
Distributed byMGM Home Entertainment
Release date
  • 2005 (2005)
Running time
95 minutes
LanguageEnglish

Lucky 13 is a 2005 American romantic comedy film directed by Chris Hall and starring Brad Hunt and Harland Williams, with music by Debra Jo Rupp.[1][2]

Plot

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This film is about Zach Baker and his quest to go back through his past experiences with women so he will have the perfect date with his lifelong friend, Abbey. Abbey would be the thirteenth woman he has gone out with and he hopes she will be "Lucky 13".

The story revolves around Zach asking each woman what he did wrong in their relationship, so as to not make the same mistakes with Abbey. A recurring gag involves Zach throwing objects, representing his past affairs, into a lake. During the course of the film, Zach makes changes to his appearance and demeanor, trying to emulate the advice he gets from his past girlfriends—most of which is contradictory.

After much soul-searching, Zach decides to ask Abbey to marry him—a proposal that she turns down in order to move to New York City and pursue her dream of being an artist. Zach eventually comes to realize that his life in the Midwest is not so bad and he gains a new appreciation for his family and friends.

Cast

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Critical reception

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The film was panned in a review that appeared in the Observer newspaper in Ontario, which said, "It's a monotonous combination of a poor script, bizarre and/or uninteresting characters and a trio of heroes you really just don't care about."[2]

References

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Lucky 13

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Lucky 13 is an American primetime game show that aired on ABC for a single season of 10 episodes from July 18 to September 19, 2024. Co-hosted by former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal and actress Gina Rodriguez, the series challenged contestants to answer 13 true-or-false trivia questions and then predict the range containing the number of their correct responses to win escalating cash prizes up to a $1 million jackpot.[1][2][3][4] Each episode featured two games, with 13 contestants per game; one selected for the "hot seat" to face the questions while reasoning their answers aloud; they could use a single "refresh" to change one response. After completing the quiz, the contestant selected from five prize tiers—$5,000 for 1–3 correct, $15,000 for 4–6, $25,000 for 7–9, $100,000 for 10–12, or $1 million for all 13—and won the corresponding amount only if their actual score fell within that range, with an additional $25,000 bonus for pinpointing the exact number within the range (except for 13). O'Neal occasionally offered a guaranteed cash payout via a red button to mitigate risk, but if the contestant's score did not fall within their chosen range, they won nothing, heightening the stakes.[3][5] Produced by Studio 1 in association with Jersey Legends Productions and I Can & I Will Productions, Lucky 13 was created by Adrian Woolfe and drew from a British format, marking ABC's most-watched summer series premiere of 2024 with 2.7 million viewers for its debut. However, the show faced significant post-production turmoil when Studio 1 declared bankruptcy, leaving 13 winners owed $461,500 in prizes; ABC intervened in February 2025 to cover the full amount directly. The series was cancelled in November 2024 and will not return for a second season, despite averaging modest ratings of 0.20 in the key 18–49 demographic.[6][7][8][4]

Synopsis and cast

Plot

Lucky 13 is a high-stakes quiz game show in which 13 contestants compete each episode, with one selected to take the "hot seat" and answer 13 true-or-false trivia questions while reasoning their responses aloud.[6] The contestant may use one "refresh" to change a single answer. After completing the quiz, they must predict the range in which their correct answer count falls, choosing from five escalating prize tiers: $5,000 for 1–3 correct answers, $25,000 for 4–6, $100,000 for 7–9, $250,000 for 10–12, or $1 million for all 13. They win the prize only if their actual score matches the chosen range; an additional $25,000 bonus is awarded for guessing the exact number. If the score exceeds the selected range, the contestant wins nothing. Co-host Shaquille O'Neal may occasionally offer a guaranteed cash payout—typically half the value of the chosen tier—via a red button, allowing the contestant to quit early and secure the money, though the questions are reordered during play to build tension.[3]

Cast

The series is co-hosted by former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, who asks the questions and provides the red button cash-out option, and actress Gina Rodriguez, who reveals the correct answers and adds dramatic flair to the proceedings.[1] There are no other recurring cast members, as the format features rotating civilian contestants.
HostRole Description
Shaquille O'NealCo-host; poses questions and offers risk-mitigating cash-out via red button.[9]
Gina RodriguezCo-host; reveals answers and heightens on-stage tension.[9]

Production

Development

Lucky 13 was created by Adrian Woolfe, a television producer formerly with Celador, the company responsible for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The format originated in the United Kingdom as a high-stakes primetime quiz show. ABC announced the series on May 3, 2024, scheduling its premiere for July 18, 2024, as part of the network's summer programming.[9] The show was produced by the UK-based Studio 1 in association with Jersey Legends Productions and I Can & I Will Productions. It utilized an unconventional financing model in which Studio 1 pre-funded the production in exchange for a share of revenue from advertising and product placement. This arrangement later contributed to financial difficulties when Studio 1 declared bankruptcy in early 2025, prompting ABC to cover unpaid prizes. Woolfe served as showrunner, with executive producers including Mark Wells, Glenn Coomber, Kevin Bacon, and Clay Spencer for Fried in a Deal Productions, as well as Shaquille O'Neal and Gina Rodriguez.[9][6][7]

Casting

The series was co-hosted by former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, leveraging his experience in entertainment and previous game show hosting, and actress Gina Rodriguez, known for her Emmy-winning role in Jane the Virgin and her charismatic on-screen presence. Their pairing was selected to bring energy and relatability to the high-stakes format.[1][9]

Filming

The 10 episodes were primarily filmed in mid-June 2024 at Worre Studios, a 25,000-square-foot facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, before a live studio audience. A pilot episode had been shot earlier at dock10 studios in Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. Nest Productions, a UK company, provided production services for both the pilot and the main series filming.[4][10][11]

Release

Distribution

Lucky 13 premiered on ABC in the United States on July 18, 2024, airing new episodes weekly on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET until the season finale on September 19, 2024.[1] The series consisted of 10 episodes and was available for next-day streaming on Hulu.[12] As of November 2025, no international broadcast or streaming distribution has been announced outside the U.S.

Home media

No physical home media releases, such as DVD or Blu-ray, have been issued for Lucky 13 as of November 2025. The full season remains available for streaming on Hulu in the United States.[13]

Reception

Critical reception

Lucky 13 received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its hosts and format but criticism for pacing issues. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has no Tomatometer score due to insufficient reviews.[12] Joy Press of Decider gave a negative review, rating it a "Skip It" and criticizing the slow pacing, excessive filler, and Shaquille O'Neal's monotone delivery during questioning, which diminished tension despite the intriguing risk-reward mechanic of predicting correct answers. Press noted Gina Rodriguez's humor as a highlight but found the execution dragged, making it better suited for background viewing.[3] In contrast, Stephanie Morgan of Common Sense Media awarded a 3 out of 5 rating, praising the show as a diverse and family-friendly option with entertaining trivia across topics and dynamic hosting by O'Neal and Rodriguez that added charm and humor. However, Morgan pointed out the game's cumbersome structure and the low odds of winning the top prize as drawbacks. The review recommended it for ages 6 and up.[14]

Audience response

Audience reception has been mixed to negative, with an average rating of 5.1 out of 10 on IMDb based on 167 user ratings as of November 2025.[2] Viewers often described the concept as promising but criticized it as boring and slow-paced, with comments on Reddit calling it the "worst game show" due to lack of host chemistry and stiff presentation.[15] Some positive feedback highlighted the question quality and hosts' individual appeal, with one Reddit user noting O'Neal's chilled demeanor complemented Rodriguez's energy, and appreciating the graphics and set design.[15] Viewer complaints on social media, such as X (formerly Twitter), echoed frustrations over the show's length and difficulty, with some suggesting format changes to improve engagement.[16] The series premiered to 2.7 million viewers, ABC's most-watched summer unscripted debut of 2024, but averaged 0.20 in the 18-49 demographic, contributing to its cancellation.[4]
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