Project Hail Mary (2026)

​“Project Hail Mary” stars Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Milana Vayntrub, Lionel Boyce, and Ken Leung.  Released on March 20, 2026, the film has a man waking up inside a spacecraft with no memory of how he got there.

The film was directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, known for directing films such as “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”, “21 Jump Street”, and “The Lego Movie”.  They’re also widely known for writing and producing the “Spider-Verse” trilogy.  It is based on Andy Weir's 2021 novel.  Usually, when the world is at risk of extinction, they turn to the best of the best with the capabilities to prevent a global catastrophe.  Some might choose a professional astronaut or maybe an intelligent scientist to devise a solution.  However, in this particular case, they decided to go with an ordinary teacher as their last hope of survival.  It might sound absurd at first glance, given his teaching skills not aligning with this challenging task, but it did make for an enticing idea for Andy Weir’s novel, which is now a film adaptation by directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.  The term "Hail Mary" is often associated with a daring, often risky, feat, particularly in sports.  However, this movie exemplifies that the term can apply to a wide range of situations, not just football.  Is it able to pull that off in terms of quality and story, or does it crash-land on Earth with a disappointing thud?  Let’s find out.

The story centers on Ryland Grace (Gosling), a man who wakes up on a spacecraft from his medically induced coma.  Awakened with amnesia, Ryland discovers that he’s the only survivor on the ship and is light-years away from Earth.  As he navigates the galactic unknown, Ryland gradually recalls his past, including his time as a middle school teacher and a former molecular biologist.  He was approached by government agent Eva Stratt (Hüller), who informed Ryland that the sun is dimming due to a microorganism known as “Astrophage”, which would cause catastrophic cooling of Earth within 30 years.  With time at the essence, Ryland endures the dangerous obstacles to save his home while also befriending an alien whom he named “Rocky” (James Ortiz).

Obviously, I haven’t read the book it’s based on, mainly because I don’t read many books outside my school days.  However, I have heard some great things about it.  Fortunately, its trailers and stellar word of mouth have convinced me to see what makes this concept connect with its audience.  Along with Ryan Gosling’s latest attempt to attract box office numbers outside of “Barbie”, “Project Hail Mary” marks the first directorial effort from Lord and Miller in twelve years since “22 Jump Street”.  “Solo: A Star Wars Story” doesn’t count since they departed from that film due to creative differences.  Their return to directing was something I’ve been anticipating for a while because I’ve been admiring their approach to comedy and unique visual flair, especially when they’re subverted to make their movies feel refreshing and fun.  Whether they’re directing, writing, and/or executive producing, Lord and Miller are certainly one of the dream teams worth recognizing in the genre.

However, “Project Hail Mary” seemed like a different ship for them to steer than the comedies they’ve directed, like “21 Jump Street” and “The Lego Movie”.  It seemed to aim for a more visually striking space odyssey rather than a fast-paced comedy that subverts its cliched tropes.  While I appreciated the duo’s change of pace from what I usually remember them for, the execution of that direction would have to blow me away to keep supporting their creativity, which it did.  Whenever a movie receives strong word of mouth ahead of its release, I tend to be cautious while watching it, out of fear of being disappointed by certain aspects.  Given its two-and-a-half-hour runtime and the story taking place mainly in space, I was pretty concerned that it might overstay its welcome or worse: be overhyped.  But after the first 20 minutes of the film, my worries were quickly sent into space, and a sense of emotional awe took over my body for the rest of the runtime.

Regarding its technical prowess and visual ambition, “Project Hail Mary” is another incredible, eye-opening film that truly deserves the theatrical treatment.  From the dazzling wonders of its galactic settings to the thrilling aura of space travel, this is another movie that highlights the specialty of a cinematic experience that can never be replicated at home.  The space sequences were marvelously shot by Greig Fraser, capturing the vast galaxy’s inner beauty and vibrancy in a way that evokes the feeling of being in space myself.  The fact that it was shot for IMAX, particularly given the aspect-ratio switches, makes it even more deserving of the big-screen treatment.  I only watched the movie on a regular premium screen rather than in an IMAX theater, but that didn’t diminish the gorgeousness and craftsmanship of the film’s modern space odyssey.

However, what really caught me off guard was the story.  “Project Hail Mary” works miraculously well not just as a visionary experience, but also as a genuinely warm, humorous, and surprisingly emotional tale of hope and loneliness in the pursuit of accomplishing the impossible.  On paper, “Project Hail Mary” has pretty much the narrative ingredients we’d normally see in other sci-fi films.  You got the “preventing a global catastrophe” premise, akin to “Armageddon,” and the “human/alien friendship” aspect of Grace’s bond with Rocky, similar to classics like “E.T.” and “The Iron Giant”.  These ideas were far from original, though they seem to have served as inspiration for Andy Weir’s novel.  But again, the execution of these elements is what truly matters, and my goodness, it did not disappoint.  Though similar in these tropes, “Project Hail Mary” carries a spaceship full of charm, wit, science, and heart to keep its plot from floating aimlessly into deep space.

Considering Drew Goddard’s successful attempt to adapt Andy Weir’s previous novel, “The Martian”, I can definitely see why he was brought back to adapt “Project Hail Mary”.  Without reading the book myself, Drew Goddard crafted a wonderfully written script that unravels the human soul of Grace’s arc and friendship with a rock alien with no face, formed by their shared loneliness.  As mentioned before, it not only reflects on that heartwarming bond but also emphasizes hope and survival amid the impossible.  Grace only sees himself as incapable and inexperienced despite people having faith in him, but his suicidal journey helps him discover that even an ordinary teacher can accomplish something greater for humanity and even himself.  This is another example of a screenplay that transforms its familiarity into something as beautiful and tear-inducing as its galactic horizons.  Its approach to non-linear storytelling, in which the film jumps from the present to the past, also helped retain the story’s interest, especially since the flashbacks were as fun and endearing as the present scenes, thanks to the script’s scientific knowledge.  Speaking as someone who isn’t that big into science, I’m impressed by how engaged I was in seeing people talk about molecular biology.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are known for their approach to subversive comedy, whether it's family-friendly or raunchy.  However, they don’t shy away from the heart amid the humor, which has led to the success of their previous films both critically and financially.  “Project Hail Mary” is certainly no different from the pack, particularly for its amazing visual effects and charismatic humor.  But they managed to emphasize the drama, heart, and emotion more than a film about walking, talking LEGO people would.  This could’ve been another strong case of emotional manipulation, but I was actually pleased with how well-balanced and genuine its emotions were.  The comedy is unsurprisingly entertaining, which is driven by the visuals, Grace’s awkwardness, and Rocky himself.  But when it gets to the heartbreaking and even the hopeful moments, it hits pretty hard, so much so that it actually made me cry a few times.  I didn’t think that a movie about a rock-shaped alien would make me shed a tear more than once, but man, did this movie prove otherwise with its authentic emotional pull.  The pacing can be a bit quick at first, but I got used to it after a while, since it doesn’t lose sight of its storytelling depth, which makes its lengthy runtime a breeze to sit through.  Regarding its visionary awe and blend of emotions, I’m surprised to say that this is the duo’s best directorial work since “The Lego Movie”.          

I already mentioned that the visual and technical aspects make “Project Hail Mary” a worthy theatrical experience, but I’m just going to say it again because why not?  The effects are downright incredible, not just in the production design and lighting, but also in the space exploration aspect.  Everything in these space sequences is among the most beautiful visuals I’ve witnessed on screen, especially in one particular scene that left me in awe.  The fact that they minimize the use of green screen and CGI makes the movie even more appealing.  Additionally, the people behind the practical design and puppetry for Rocky deserve recognition for making this adorable alien look and feel more alive.  It’s enough to consider it an early contender for the Best Visual Effects and Production Design categories at next year’s Oscars.  I also loved the musical score composed by Daniel Pemberton, who also worked on the “Spider-Verse” films, for its angelic, harmonious tone that beautifully complements its emotional beats.  He certainly knows how to evoke a range of feelings through his compositions, whether they are exciting, sad, or even hopeful.

You want to know what’s also incredible?  The film’s cast, primarily Ryan Gosling.  Ryland Grace is an inexperienced, awkward school teacher who is reluctantly chosen as humanity's last hope and makes some corny jokes we might recognize.  Ryan Gosling conveyed that personality flawlessly through his compelling charisma and heartwarming presence.  I would even say this is one of his best performances I’ve seen because, amid the charm of his humor, Gosling understood the task of infusing a teacher plagued by loneliness with a sense of humanity.  Whether he has a shot at another Oscar nomination remains uncertain right now, but I wouldn’t throw that conversation out the window yet.  Sandra Hüller was also great as Eva Stratt, delivering a tender performance that made her one of the highlights of the film’s flashbacks, particularly in her karaoke scene.  With this and “The Zone of Interest”, I’m left with a strong feeling we’ll be seeing more of Hüller in the near future.  However, the real shining star of the cast is James Ortiz, who serves as both the voice and lead puppeteer for Rocky.  As mentioned earlier, the practical effects and puppetry for Rocky were exceptional, perfectly complementing Ortiz’s vocal performance that captures Rocky’s lovable and innocent character.  In short, he’s equivalent to a supporting character from Disney films: charming, hilarious, and crucial to the movie’s themes.

Overall, “Project Hail Mary” goes the distance with a breathtaking space odyssey that flawlessly combines visual beauty and heartfelt storytelling.  Despite its blockbuster-sized length, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have crafted a sturdy cinematic endeavor that straps me in and compels me through its galactic majesty, thoughtful storytelling, and immersive filmmaking.  The result is obviously another reason why the cinema-going experience remains as impactful as ever.  As a film, it’s also a fantastic tale of survival and friendship that effectively utilizes its familiar ideas and emotion to make me a believer in the Hail Mary.  Its great cast, excellent direction, compelling screenplay, and stellar visuals are the main aspects worthy of giving the movie a thumbs up, or in this case, a thumbs down if we’re going by Rocky’s traditions.  If you’re a fan of the book or even a massive supporter of the theatrical experience, this latest intergalactic journey is definitely worth embarking on.

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