Ryan Gosling dives headfirst into the deep end – or rather, deep space – in “Project Hail Mary,” which opened in theaters nationwide on March 19, 2026. The film immediately throws audiences into the disorientation of Dr. Rylan Grace (Gosling), who awakens from an artificial coma with a wild mane, a substantial beard, and tubes protruding from every orifice, hinting at a long and arduous journey.
Grace soon pieces together the alarming truth: he’s not just a former physics teacher unexpectedly turned astronaut, but humanity’s last hope. He’s been sent to another star system because the sun is dying, and if he doesn’t find a solution on this desperate mission, at least half of Earth’s population will perish within 30 years.
While the premise sounds bleak, “Project Hail Mary,” based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, is anything but somber. In fact, the film is deliberately and unapologetically optimistic, aiming to deliver a two-and-a-half-hour, purely entertaining space adventure that reminds audiences that
science can be cool and thrilling.
The adaptation, helmed by the well-established directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller – previously known for “The Lego Movie” and the “Spider-Verse” film series – remains remarkably faithful to the source material. For much of the runtime, the film focuses on characters conducting research, occasionally shouting “Eureka!” – a level of intellectual engagement that demands a bit of work from viewers, especially considering it’s a typical American blockbuster.
But, “Project Hail Mary” isn’t a typical considerable-budget film. It’s a character-driven story, relying heavily on Ryan Gosling’s portrayal of a somewhat awkward, socially anxious intellectual, which gives the film a surprising amount of heart, setting it apart from other Weir-based adaptations like, in the opinion of some, the overrated “The Martian.”
Films often stumble when their narratives are fragmented, jumping back and forth in time. But in this case, that structure is one of “Project Hail Mary’s” greatest strengths. Watching the film feels like assembling a puzzle piece by piece. Even for those who, like this writer, don’t have a strong background in physics, chemistry, or other scientific fields, the film offers a glimpse into why others find fulfillment in those disciplines.
“Project Hail Mary” boasts a logically sound and believable plot, from the reasons stars cool down to how humanity might achieve near-light-speed travel.
Gosling’s charisma carries the film, delivering a believable performance as both a confused astronaut and a teacher thrust into an unimaginable situation, making him a character audiences can root for. The film as well occasionally allows itself to be visually stunning, with breathtaking shots of the cosmos when the characters venture beyond the confines of labs and research facilities. In an era where Hollywood often favors muted palettes, the film’s vibrant colors are a welcome change, particularly for optimistic stories like this one.
It’s not a major spoiler – as the trailers reveal – that Grace isn’t alone on his mission. He encounters a latest friend, an alien being who has come to the same star system for the same reason: their planet is also facing extinction, and they’ve sent a team to investigate why this one star remains stable. The alien, nicknamed Rocky, is a somewhat underdeveloped character, essentially a spider-like rock with legs. Yet, it manages to steal the audience’s heart, and many of the film’s most poignant moments revolve around their unlikely friendship. While screenwriter Drew Goddard struggles to fully convey the gravity of Earth’s situation, even with the addition of Sandra Hüller to the cast, the emotional core of the film lies in the bond between Grace and Rocky.
The biggest issue with “Project Hail Mary” is that the Grace-Rocky storyline occasionally overshadows the rest of the film. The initial connection feels drawn out, and as the story progresses, the filmmakers lean more into emotional peaks than maintaining the film’s original identity: a well-constructed, logical, yet emotionally resonant hardcore science fiction story.
When the film balances humor and scientific exploration, it works. But when it prioritizes emotional manipulation, Grace becomes a simpler astronaut, and his intellectual curiosity fades into the background.
Surprisingly, Andy Weir’s book’s ending, while Disney-esque in its sentimentality, resonated with readers. In the film adaptation, Goddard hesitated to make drastic changes, a decision that feels like a missed opportunity. After all, adaptations are allowed to deviate from the source material, but the core message should remain intact.
The ending brought a 9/10 film down considerably.
If not for the final five minutes, “Project Hail Mary” would be an instant classic, a sci-fi film that could set a new standard for the genre, a smart blockbuster that challenges the current trend of AI-driven, big-budget Hollywood productions. But as it stands, it’s simply a good, memorable sci-fi film, which is a shame given its potential. Despite its flaws, “Project Hail Mary” delivers memorable moments and undeniable strengths.
7.7/10
“Project Hail Mary” is currently playing in theaters.
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