“Project Hail Mary” earned $300 million globally in its first two weekends, making it the highest-grossing domestic film of 2026 so far. Released on March 19, 2026, the film adaptation of the 2021 novel by Andy Weir tells the story of a “hail mary” project to save the sun.
The plot follows Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, a seventh-grade science teacher who wakes up from a medically induced coma in a spaceship light-years away from Earth. He is not a trained astronaut, but rather a reluctant participant put into an unimaginable situation. As Grace regains his memory, he remembers his mission: to save Earth from astrophage killing the sun.
The film jumps between flashbacks to Earth, showing the origins of “Project Hail Mary,” Grace’s life on Earth and the experience as the mission’s sole survivor on the ship. Grace calls on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save all life on Earth from extinction.
The film’s adaptation’s most surprising strength lies in its exploration of connection. “Project Hail Mary” becomes, in its latter half, a story about cooperation and understanding across profound differences.
Although Grace is the only human on the ship, he meets an unexpected alien accomplice, Rocky. After meeting Rocky, voiced by James Ortiz, Grace and he create a way for the two of them to communicate by translating Rocky’s language into English. It’s here that the film finds its emotional peak, transforming what could have been a purely technical survival story into something far more human by creating an unexpected friendship between the two of them. Not only do they become friends, but both Rocky and Grace also need to save the Sun for their dying planets.
Grace, although he is not a conventional hero, is so captivating throughout the film. His humor, vulnerability and determination create a character who feels authentic and relatable.
The composer, Daniel Pemberton, brought an emotional weight to the film, conveying sadness, fear and joy with his musical choices. Tracks like “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” by Kris Kristofferson, “Rainbows” by Dennis Wilson and “Two Of Us” by the Beatles tell the story of Grace and Rocky through music. The film’s most iconic song is heard during a flashback before the mission at a celebration where Sandra Hüller, who is in charge of the project, played by Eva Stratt, sings “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles, which drives home the stakes of Grace’s mission.
Visually, the film strikes a beautiful balance between realism and awe. The spacecraft interiors are meticulously designed, while the vastness of space is portrayed with beauty. The time spent creating a visual rhythm completes its narrative perfectly.
In the end, “Project Hail Mary” is more than just a story about saving the world. It is a story about the value of knowledge, the importance of cooperation and the resilience of the human spirit when faced with the unknown.
