Project Hail Mary Review
Some time in the near future, Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up from an induced coma in a spaceship. Light years from home, Grace has no memory of how he got there. As he searches the ship, he discovers that all the other crew members are dead.
Once his panic eases, memories of his past begin to return. He was a schoolteacher on Earth when it was discovered that the Sun was beginning to dim. The cause was identified as an alien microorganism dubbed “astrophage.”
Astronomers discovered that the astrophage has not only attacked our Sun, but also most of the stars closest to our solar system. With no apparent way to stop the astrophage, all hope seemed lost. But it was discovered that one star has been able to withstand the astrophage infection.
With no other options, the nations of Earth worked together to send a spaceship and crew on a one-way trip to the star to try and discover what stopped the astrophage. It is dubbed “Project Hail Mary.” Now, as the last surviving crew member, Ryland Grace has become the last chance for the mission to succeed.
As Grace finally arrives at the virus-free star, he discovers something even more shocking – an alien spaceship. As he makes contact with the alien ship, he discovers that they are on the same mission – to save their respective planets.
Grace must use all his skills to communicate with the alien and combine their capabilities to stop the astrophage. But are they the right beings for the job?
Project Hail Mary is interesting in that it shamelessly borrows from a lot of different films, blends them together, and ends up creating something that is wholly entertaining on its own. It takes mind-bending hard science and makes it accessible, much like Interstellar.
It takes the isolated astronaut surviving on his STEM skills, like in The Martian (also written by Project Hail Mary author Andy Weir). It grabs a bit of the first-contact themes of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (and even has a tip of the hat to the John Williams theme) and The Arrival.
Then there are the inevitable similarities to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, where the human and the unusual alien bond. Then the finale has elements of Star Wars, with the aliens and humans joining forces in an action-packed last-ditch effort to save the universe. It all comes together in a crowd-pleasing film that’s accessible for all ages.
For much of Project Hail Mary, only one actor is on the screen, and that’s Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace. There aren’t many actors who can singlehandedly carry a film for two and a half hours, but Ryan Gosling is one of them. He’s funny as a reluctant hero trying to make first contact with an alien, but he’s also capable of coming across as an intellectual that Earth considers humanity’s last hope.
Much like Harrison Ford with Chewbacca, his interaction with the alien that looks like a pile of rocks absolutely sells the character that might otherwise be considered ridiculous. Gosling‘s performance makes you care about this pile of rocks. The alien, dubbed Rocky, is voiced by James Ortiz, who is also excellent. Despite Rocky’s voice coming through a computer, Ortiz still manages to give the alien humanity through humor, innocence, and excitement.
The humor of Project Hail Mary is what makes it most accessible. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are well-known for their comedic tone, and they give this story their unique stamp here. They manage to find humor in otherwise innocuous moments, like picking up Rocky’s voice on the computer, shopping at the hardware store, giving a technical presentation to a room full of the smartest people on the planet, and more.
They also find humor in Grace and Rocky becoming roommates on his ship. They are both desperately lonely, but they eventually drive each other nuts. The awe of alien first contact eventually fades into typical roommate annoyance. That humor makes the other heavy themes of death, self-sacrifice, isolation, and the end of the world more tolerable.
There is some heavy science in Project Hail Mary, but the creators manage to make it interesting and accessible. Gosling makes the scientific method look fun as he researches the astrophage. The puzzle of how to communicate with an alien pile of rocks becomes engaging.
And getting the audience to realize that the universe is bigger than our basic senses is a great way to get people to think about the real world. I can imagine some young kids walking out of the theater and becoming seriously interested in STEM careers because of this movie.
Project Hail Mary is also visually stunning. Grace’s spacewalks against the backdrop of a gas planet are beautiful. Rocky’s spaceship is unique and incredibly detailed. The cinematography and production design should definitely be remembered around awards season. The bar has been set high for 2026 films.
As enjoyable as Project Hail Mary is, it is not flawless. At 2.5 hours, it is a bit long. Yet at the same time, it does feel rushed. Rocky and Grace quickly go from basic words to full conversations.
The ending also feels especially rushed. Yet at the same time, the film has multiple endings that will trigger anyone who criticized The Return of the King. It almost feels like it would have been well-suited for a TV series as long as it is.
Project Hail Mary is the first movie of 2026 worth seeing on the big screen. If you liked The Martian, Interstellar, or Arrival, then this should be right up your alley. It is also accessible for all ages, so consider it a sci-fi film for the whole family.
PROJECT HAIL MARY REVIEW RATING: 8.5 OUT OF 10
Amazon MGM Studios will release Project Hail Mary in theaters on Friday, March 20, 2026. The film has been rated PG-13 for some thematic material and suggestive references.
