Why to Watch The Luckiest Man in America?

I was immediately interested when I heard that a movie was being made about Michael Larson—the man who won over $110,000 on Press Your Luck in 1984. I’ve been fascinated by his story for years. So when The Luckiest Man in America was released, I knew I had to watch it right away.

This film, starring Paul Walter Hauser as Michael Larson, tells how he figured out the game show’s patterns and used that knowledge to win big. But after watching it, I have mixed feelings. While there were parts I enjoyed, there were also things that disappointed me, especially as someone who knows and loves the real-life story.

What I Liked About the Movie

Let’s start with what I liked, because there were some good things in the film.

Paul Walter Hauser’s Performance

Hauser was great as Michael Larson. He brought energy and charm to the role. You could see how much effort he put into understanding Larson’s mindset. He made the character feel real and human, which isn’t always easy when playing someone who is both smart and a little reckless.

Time Period Look and Feel

The movie also nailed the 1980s setting. The costumes, the hairstyles, and even the look of the old television studio were all spot-on. As someone who watched Press Your Luck back in the day, I thought they did a great job recreating the look of that time.

Strong Supporting Cast

Besides Hauser, the film also featured great performances from Walton Goggins, Maisie Williams, and David Strathairn. Goggins is always good, and he didn’t disappoint here. Each actor brought something different to the film, even though they didn’t always have the best material to work with.

What Didn’t Work for Me

Even with those positives, I can’t say I loved the movie. Some real problems with it took away from the overall experience.

The Story Felt Unbalanced

The biggest issue for me was how the movie focused more on the control room than on Michael Larson himself. Yes, I understand that they wanted to add some tension by showing what was going on behind the scenes of the show. But the truth is, the real story—the part where Larson memorized patterns to beat the system—is way more interesting than what the producers were doing.

They only mention twice that Larson “learned the patterns,” and they move past it very quickly. If you don’t already know the full story, you’d probably miss how clever and bold his actions were.

Pacing Issues

Another problem is that the movie drags in the middle. It felt like they didn’t have enough content to fill the entire run time with just the game show part, so they added scenes that felt like filler. Some parts seemed too slow, and others didn’t really add anything new.

Poorly Set Time and Place

For those who weren’t around in the 1980s, the movie doesn’t do a great job of explaining the era or why the game show was such a big deal back then. It misses the chance to set up the cultural background, and that leaves the viewer with a few questions. I know the background, but I imagine someone younger might feel lost.

As a Fan of the Real Story

I’ve always been a fan of Michael Larson’s story. The fact that he watched hours of television, studied the patterns, and used his knowledge to outsmart a national game show is just fascinating. That story alone is enough for a great movie.

So frankly, I thought the film didn’t do his story justice. It felt like the writers didn’t trust the audience to enjoy the real story. Instead, they turned it into something else, adding drama that didn’t need to be there and shifting the focus away from Larson.

I was excited to see a movie that explored how he pulled it off, step by step. Instead, I got a version that only touched on it briefly and moved on to less interesting parts.

Should You Watch It?

That depends on what you’re looking for.

You might enjoy it if:

• You like Paul Walter Hauser and want to see another good performance from him.

• You enjoy stories about underdogs and game shows.

• You’re interested in 1980s nostalgia.

You might not enjoy it if:

• You’re already familiar with the real story and want a faithful retelling.

• You dislike slow pacing or unnecessary side plots.

• You’re looking for a deep dive into how Larson beat the game.

Final Thoughts

The Luckiest Man in America is not a bad movie, but it could have been a great one. It has strong performances and gets the 1980s vibe right, but it doesn’t do enough with the true story it’s based on. As someone who already loves the real-life tale of Michael Larson, I was left wanting more.

I’d still recommend giving it a watch—especially if you’re curious or like game show stories—but just know that it’s not a perfect version of what really happened.