Project Hail Mary

When times are tough and world-weary souls have looked for an avenue of escapism to retreat from their woes, worries and weltschmerz, they’ve often flocked to the movies to relieve that pent-up pressure. And, at a time when it feels like the world is going to you-know-where in a you-know-what (like now), that’s true more than ever. So it’s with that in mind that this much-anticipated sci-fi space adventure from directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller enters the picture, a release promulgated with the hope of providing that much-needed and much-hoped-for entertainment remedy. Unfortunately, it comes up seriously short of the mark. When once-famous but now-discredited scientist Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) redeems himself by discovering the cause of a space-based catastrophe lying in wait with the potential to devastate the Earth, he’s “recruited” by an international panel of investigators (led by a regrettably miscast Sandra Hüller) to participate in a mission to resolve the issue. He’s reluctant to go, given personal misgivings and his lack of experience as an astronaut, apprehensions that are unsurprisingly confirmed when he wakes up from hibernation to find he’s the only member of his crew to survive. He’s thus left to teach himself how to pilot his spacecraft on his own and to look for a solution to the impending calamity, one that has apparently affected all of our neighboring solar systems but one. And, upon his arrival at that sole surviving locale, he encounters a stone-faced alien whom he names “Rocky” (voiced by James Ortiz) who has been dispatched from his home world to this same location for the same purpose. Perhaps working together will yield an answer for this unlikely duo, but first these two very different beings must learn how to communicate if they’re to collaborate successfully, a challenge almost as big as their scientific dilemma. While this may sound like a plausible premise for an escapist fantasy offering, problems arise not so much in the nature of the story but in its error-filled execution. For starters, at a runtime of 2:36:00, it’s too long to maintain viewer interest with what it has to work with. That’s because the treatment never takes itself seriously enough to make audience members want to care about the characters or the outcome. Instead of creating a thrilling and engaging space adventure, the film becomes more of a lightweight buddy movie (and a very silly, almost juvenile, one at that). Comic relief is one thing, but this production carries this idea way too far, and this ends up becoming a chief source of the picture’s desperate need for editing. On top of this, the narrative isn’t especially original, combining tropes found in releases like “Interstellar” (2014), “The Martian” (2015), and, even as unlikely as it may sound, “Cast Away” (2000), with visual elements that look like they were plucked from “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) and “2010: The Year We Make Contact” (1984). And, speaking of visuals, the special effects are a decidedly mixed bag of images, with some stunningly beautiful and others that unbelievably look like they’re 40 years out of date (talk about continuity issues). Then there’s the lead performance by Gosling, who carries much of the picture by himself, again portraying (or attempting to portray) his signature supposedly soft-spoken everyman, but who, in this instance, routinely steps out of character and goes over the top with displays that are unmitigatedly hammy and cloying (much like his extraterrestrial co-star). Consequently, when all is said and done, “Project Hail Mary” comes up an unexpected disappointment, failing to deliver the goods that its marketing team so fervently promised. I realize that I probably sound cantankerous and curmudgeonly in my assessment and that this will likely end up being an unpopular opinion that goes against what most critics and viewers say about it, but I truthfully came away from this one feeling unsatisfied. Nevertheless, if you’re still compelled to see this one any way, at least do yourself the favor of watching it on an IMAX screen for best effect. But, if I were you, I’d wait for it to come to streaming instead.

CinemaSerf

2026-03-15

80%

I think this might be my favourite sci-fi film since “Galaxy Quest” (1999) and like that, this is a solid and entertaining story led by an actor who is quite possibly getting better looking and more charismatic as he gets older. “Grace” (Ryan Gosling) is the kind of interactive science teacher that I’d have loved. Few text books, just gadgets, gizmos and beanbag factoids that appear to keep his teenage students interested and enthusiastic. When he leaves one afternoon he encounters the enigmatic "Eva” (Sandra Hüller) who knows of his more rebellious past amongst the scientific community and who invites him to participate in a crucial and global project. The sun is dying, and rapidly, and they have identified what they think might be the cause. Quickly identifying what he calls the “astrophage”, he is soon aboard an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean working on an antidote that might be sourced from a star light years from earth. A scientist he wants to be - an astronaut, well that's a different matter - and so after an unfortunate explosion that’s where “Eva” has a difficult decision to make. Running in parallel to this thread is one on a spaceship in a galaxy far, far, away - and where it’s lone astronaut has met and befriended another wanderer looking for a solution to this intergalactic plague. The two are pretty much polar opposites. They’ve no language in common and they don’t even breathe the same air - but some technical legerdemain, sign language, model making and good old-fashioned goodwill might just help them find a solution in time? Aside from a couple of quite sparing interventions from Hüller - and a mean bit of her karaoke, this is really just Gosling demonstrating that cardigans are cool as he hurtles through space. The writing provides him with some quite witty dialogue a well as just an hint or two of actual science; the visual effects are impressive too but ultimately it’s his amiable characterisation that makes us smile and tugs at our heartstrings almost simultaneously as their story races along for a couple of hours mixing jeopardy, humour and the power of friendship into it as it goes. It looks great on a big screen and I'd certainly be up for a sequel.

nick_012

2026-03-19

100%

Incredible movie. So heartwarming and funny. The cinematography is gorgeous, the story is so entertaining and you get so emotionally invested to the characters. Ryan Gosling will never disappoint me.

Full review: https://movieswetextedabout.com/project-hail-mary-movie-review-ryan-gosling-shines-in-a-visually-stunning-redemption-story-for-the-ages/ Rating: A- "Project Hail Mary stands as a triumph of narrative over technique, where the redemption of a man who believed himself a coward becomes the symbol of hope for an entire civilization. It’s a beautiful exploration of how genuine communication and personal sacrifice can tear down the most unthinkable barriers, uniting two beings from opposite worlds in a common purpose. Leaving the theater, my thoughts weren’t focused on orbital physics or alien chemistry, but on the profound lesson of altruism that Rocky and Grace leave to the real world. It asserts itself as one of the most immersive and emotionally rewarding sci-fi experiences in recent cinema, joining the technical grandeur of an IMAX production with the intimacy of one of the purest friendships ever seen on screen through a memorable performance by Ryan Gosling. It reminds us that, in the deafening silence of the cosmos, our greatest strength doesn’t lie in the problems solved, but in the courage to reach out to the unknown to discover that one is never truly alone. In the end, what really lasts aren’t the cutting-edge visual effects or the scientific rigor, but the soul of the story."

JPV852

2026-03-22

80%

Never read (or heard of the book but not much of a book reader aside from crime-thrillers) so I don't know anything about it, but thought this was a lot of fun with heart and Ryan Gosling was great. Hampering my experience was a girl next to me trying to get every drop of her slushie and the last 30 minutes having a full bladder not to mention the really warm theater. I was in a D-BOX seat which was well utilized. I'll check it out again once it gets to 4K. Still, solid sci-fi drama. **4/5**

Project Hail Mary is a prime example of why cinemaphiles love going to the theater. If popcorn flicks are capable of being intellectually stimulating, incredibly emotional, and monumentally worthwhile, then Project Hail Mary is the ultimate popcorn flick. https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/scifi/hail-mary-review.html

Project Hail Mary presents itself as a modern science fiction centered on the classic mission to save the world, or in this case, multiple worlds. During his journey, the protagonist is joined by the likable Rocky, a character used to further lighten the tone and distract from a plot that evolves through one contrivance after another. The convenient demise of the entire crew feels highly engineered, serving only to force an intimate dynamic between the two characters. A series of convenient coincidences allows the story to conclude in the most favorable way possible. Furthermore, what initially appeared to be a scientific focal point, the protagonist’s conviction regarding non carbon based life, is effectively validated by Rocky’s existence, yet the film fails to follow through leaving a significant thematic thread unresolved. Ultimately, it is an enjoyable, light, and occasionally humorous film; however it fails to leave a lasting impression. While the viewer is certainly entertained for the duration, the experience doesn't leave anything meaningful to reflect on.

The best movie I've seen in years, by a longshot. Highly recommend seeing this one in the theater too, the sound is incredible. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

BURG3R5

2026-03-30

90%

Great visuals and humor, but they took out many elements that made the book distinct from a generic "hero saves the world" story, and made Grace and Stratt palatable to an unnecessary extent.

I haven't enjoyed a movie this much in a long time. It was a great story, well balance balanced with humor, excitement, joy, and sadness. The amazing visuals didn't override a great story, nor did they go for too-long moments of visual poetic splendor. And I'm so glad that Rocky wasn't another 'cute' alien.

Well, first half of the movie feels a bit stretched and not very engaging. But the second half was more interesting and has a great audio backing. The visuals like camera and VFX are excellent and a pleasure to watch. I think its a great movie for everyone, who loves scifi or simply wants to see Ryan Gosling. He is doing a great job and with Rocky they are a perfect duo.

Dean

2026-04-04

90%

The film adaptation of Project Hail Mary is a masterclass in how to translate a high-concept sci-fi premise into a deeply moving cinematic experience. While the technical aspects and the scale of the cosmic mission are undeniably impressive, the true strength of the film lies in its profound emotional core. The narrative goes beyond the "competence porn" of solving physics problems and instead focuses on the vulnerability of being completely alone—and the transformative power of finding a connection in the most unlikely of places. The relationship at the center of the story is handled with a delicate, genuine warmth that makes the stakes feel intensely personal rather than just global. It is a rare film that manages to be intellectually stimulating while simultaneously making you feel a deep sense of companionship and hope. The performances ground the more fantastical elements, ensuring that the humor and the moments of quiet reflection land with equal impact. It’s a beautiful reminder that even in the vast, cold emptiness of space, the most important discovery one can make is the capacity for friendship and sacrifice. This movie is a resonant, soulful journey that stays with you long after the credits roll.

Masterpiece. The evolution on how his trek began througout this adventure was amazing. Ryan Gosling was made for this movie as he fit the part to the tee. The flashbacks during the movie were great as he pieced together the "Big Picture". It progressed along and captured my attention throughout the movie. Very realistic plot. Thorougly enjoyed it. It makes a profound statement on where we are going as we continue to explore the universe and how this could very well become a reality.

I thought that this was a great film! So many of the shots were amazing, but personally it felt like it took too long to really get going. The first hour had me a little uninterested and after that it quickly gained my attention!

Boring, waist of time. poor excuse for sci fi. pixar joke movie for kids maybe. but thought provoking, intelligent sci fi it is not. From the first scene, the slap stick tone sets the scene for the whole movie. was the director too scared of space where no one hears you scream? The dual timeline didnt work. the main character seemed like two different characters. it didn't ring true on any level. This film is nowhere near the likes of Interstella, Arrival or Moon. Its lego movie is space. such a shame. a real misfire. Give it a miss. too long to be worth your time.

Sierbahnn

2026-05-01

80%

This movie is not perfect, but is is tense, and abstract, and deeply funny. It is essentially a one-person narrative with some cgi to act with, and Ryan pulls it off well. The story is strange and intriguing, as is the companion protagonist, making the movie very enjoyable. It is just a fun sci-fi adventure/buddy-movie, and I can highly recommend it.

3 out of ALL stars! A very unpleasant movie. During marketing it was presented as 'sophisticated' science fiction evoking Interstellar. In execution it's like Jim Hanson's Interstellar, an episode of 80s Sesame Street with a money-press budget. Mistake? Confusion? Narcotics? Nefarious nihilism? You decide. A high-brow european actress known for dramatic roles was cherry-picked into a non-descript role, hired to maintain the 'sophisticated' science fiction impression. Scenes with melodrama, gravitas and pathos interchange with scenes of Muppet Show buffoonery like in a throughly shuffled deck of cards. The ship's computer is less competent than Robbie the Robot and serves as another buffoony puppet alongside Gossling - you read that right, ohoho. Gossling spends half of the movie doing a Will Ferrel level SNL impression of a kind drunk trucker in full kind-drunk-trucker getup. Nothing wrong with kind drunk truckers, especially when parked in rest-stops, they are the red blood cells of the nation! But doing an overstayed impression of one to both fill time and appeal to ALL is rude lazyness masquarading as machiavellism. In fact least puppety is Rocky, who shows most charachter depth and is easiest to sympathize with as a skilled alien faced with the incompetence porn that surrounds him. A movie about how to build a box around a box for darkness in a high-security facility using ad placement store-with-home-utility materials, even though said box is already in a large room that is in fact a box, the lights of which can be switched off. A movie about selecting an everyman teacher for his supressed brilliance, which quickly turns out to be incorrect, for no one to ever mention it is in fact correct upon meeting Rocky, a non-water based lifeform. A movie where a single person staffs an advanced high security lab while all others are baseball hat ordering onlookers/foremen watching that one municipal worker shovel and dig. A movie about sun-eating cells that are made mostly, or to quote Gossling 'ENTIRELY' out of water yet are able to live both in the freezing cold of space and atomizing heat of the sun, that they EAT. A movie with an advanced robot assistant that tries to shave you with a brand placement hand-held shaver. A movie where half of it is made from colorful tiktok reels of Ryan Gossling dancing or bobbing as a kind trucker, but far less competent. A movie where an advanced explorative alien science vessel is less capable of outer-atmosphere flybys than a rickety bucket that tries to shave you with a rechargeable shaver, inside which everyone but the Goss died for reasons™. A movie that gets more boring the higher you get - a true rarity. A movie that makes you feel stupid for trying to count all it's incompetent nonsense. A movie of today.

3/10 roentgen, not great, not terrible. The premise is absurd and completely lacking credibility and that shows in the performances - the actors are there to read their lines and be done with it. The worst is, of course, the inconvincing and unrelatable replay by Gosling of what we've seen in another hundred of similar movies. Sci-fi is not his thing, really, neither is hugging. The plot is linear, predictable and truly boring. The brief socio-political excursion into earth politics is also trite, preachy and boring and without nuance. Not even good enough for a long-haul flight.

There is something about stories set in outer space that make me feel hopeful of the possibilities of this outer space film productions that science fiction directors often hint at. This was definitely an incredible experience that I would go as far to compare to the experience I had watching Interstellar. Gosling and Huller have incredible chemistry in this and look to be conternders for next years academy awards despite the films early release. Unfortunately I was not able to experience this on an IMAX screen (because it is not available in our country) nor was I able to see it on the biggest screen in our country but I still felt that same outer world experience you get from such productions.

claristo

2026-06-01

90%

missed a few key-ish moments from the book but thats totally understandable and it still works great. similar comment about Stratt's character but again not deal breaking. I'm gonna spend my entire life shouting about practial effects because I am convinced they make every movie better and make them feel so much more human and cared for and thought through - what they did for this was sooo cool and I love it sm

Vinicius Monteiro

2026-06-09

70%

Waking up in the absolute void, with no memory, and carrying the weight of saving humanity on your shoulders. This setup had everything to be just another generic sci-fi flick we forget about a week later, right? But "Project Hail Mary" tries to pull the rug out from under us by mixing the coldness of space with an unlikely tale of friendship. The result is a ride that hits a few narrative potholes but definitely won't leave anyone indifferent. Let’s break down what actually works and what got lost in orbit in this blockbuster. Doing a movie where the lead spends most of the time alone talking to thin air is a trial by fire for any actor, and Ryan Gosling passes with flying colors. He delivers a near-perfect mix of constant vulnerability, sharp wits, and his signature sarcastic humor. Watching this guy transition from a scared teacher to the reluctant savior of humanity really hooks you. Gosling uses that blank stare and little nervous tics to show the panic he’s trying to hide behind jokes. We care about Grace’s headspace because his fear is palpable. He’s not a trained action hero; he’s just a regular dude trying not to lose his mind in the cosmic void. This brutal isolation on the ship gets a lot heavier when the movie cuts to Grace’s memories. While the space setting is suffocating and tight, our planet, in the flashbacks, is a slow-motion picture of despair. Earth is freezing over. To show this, the script hits the bullseye by giving Sandra Hüller room to shine as Eva Stratt, the leader of the global task force. Hüller is chilling. She makes ruthless, almost cruel political decisions, bulldozing over laws and human rights to try and save the species. This cold government vibe perfectly justifies the protagonist's desperation. We get that there’s no way around it: either he pulls this off, or that freezing, militarized planet is simply going to cease to exist. If Earth brings the human tension, it’s the interspecies friendship that injects real life into the story. When the character Rocky shows up, the movie reaches a whole new level. He’s not your typical humanoid alien. He’s an Eridian—basically a giant spider made of rocks that breathes ammonia and lives in the dark. And surprisingly enough, he completely steals the show. Building this relationship is one of the script's highest points. They break through massive language and physical barriers, starting with suspicion, shifting into the scientific method, and arriving at a deep sense of empathy. It’s super rare to see mainstream cinema treat "first contact" with this much patience. No shooting, no invasion. Just two terrified beings from different galaxies trying to figure out how to help each other. Speaking of figuring things out, fans of Andy Weir's book always talk about the insane amount of hard sci-fi in the story, and the movie doesn't shy away from that. A huge chunk of the communication and problem-solving between Grace and Rocky happens through math and physics. They draw makeshift graphs, build scale models, and put theories to the test. For anyone who loves a good science puzzle, watching these two crunch numbers so they don't burn to death or suffocate is a treat. The science here isn’t just window dressing; it’s the actual language connecting the two species. But it’s exactly in this attempt to balance serious science with looming tragedy that my skeptical side kicks in. The movie tries to juggle too much at once. Directors Lord and Miller bring their trademark humor, but in the context of a global apocalypse, the mix sometimes turns sour. There are moments when the stakes are sky-high, the ship is falling apart, and suddenly Grace cracks a joke that feels straight out of a Sunday afternoon sitcom. It breaks the immersion instantly. On the flip side, the movie leans so hard into optimism and melodrama that it borders on artificial. Some of the final scenes are so obviously engineered to make us cry—with the music swelling and lingering stares—that it kind of backfires. For viewers who aren't as prone to emotional manipulation, all this sweetness feels a bit too cheesy. It strips away the gravity and weight of a mission that, at its core, should be dirty, traumatizing, and practically a suicide run. If the tone wobbles, the aesthetics grab the wheel tight. You really can't fault the art direction. The cinematography does a brilliant job contrasting the pitch-black universe with the yellowish, utilitarian interior of the Hail Mary. There’s a constant feeling of thermal claustrophobia—you can practically feel the heat of the engines and the cold of the glass. Thankfully, the design team went for a fantastic balance of practical and digital effects. The textures of Rocky’s engineering, the way the Eridian ship looks like a giant mineral clock... all of it dodges that plastic, generic, weightless CGI we usually get in summer blockbusters. Things actually look like they have mass; they feel heavy. And since we’re talking about the physicality of the ship, it’s impossible to ignore the sound design. Because Eridians communicate through musical tones, the soundtrack couldn't just be some sweeping background instrumental. The music is literally part of the dialogue. The movie uses chord progressions and vibrations that constantly talk back to the metallic clanks of the ship. It’s smart, immersive sound work. A lot of the time, we understand what Rocky is feeling—anger, joy, fear—just from the texture and frequency of the chords he plays, without needing Gosling to spoon-feed and translate the emotion every five minutes. Going back to how it compares to the source material, the adaptation tried so hard to stay true to Weir's scientific detail that it forgot to watch the clock. This is the movie’s Achilles' heel: the pacing. Clocking in at over two and a half hours, the second act really drags. The script spends so much time on little lab experiments aboard the ship that the story runs out of steam. It lacks real thrills and emotional nuance in the middle of the journey; that classic gut-punch feeling that something irreparable might happen ends up feeling numbed. Worse still, the overall structure leans on a pretty derivative skeleton. Putting the brilliance of the central relationship aside, the backbone of the plot is a bunch of tropes we've seen dozens of times in other space movies. The last-minute sacrifices, the engine failures, the race against time. The movie doesn't really innovate much there, choosing to lean on formulas that have already been tried and tested by the genre. At the end of the day, Project Hail Mary is a cinematic experience with very obvious highs and lows. It knocks it out of the park with its stunning visuals, brilliant sound, and the patient building of a charismatic duo that you genuinely root for. The issue is when it trips hard over an overly long runtime and a melodrama that waters down the harsh reality of the end of the world. It’s a movie with its heart in the right place—maybe even a bit too optimistic for its own good. Is it worth your time? Absolutely. Find the biggest screen and the best sound system you can, take the ride, and see for yourself. Just go in knowing you aren't going to get a narrative revolution in sci-fi, but rather a comforting, human-and-alien adventure looking to find warmth in the coldest part of the universe.

I am truly blown away by how beautiful and deeply connected this film felt. Every single moment shared between the main characters felt incredibly genuine and fresh, which is something I haven't experienced in a long time. It’s rare to find a story that hits those emotional notes so perfectly, making you feel everything right along with them. Thank you so much for creating such an amazing, heartwarming film; it was an absolute pleasure to watch and will definitely stay with me for a long time.