“Get the Tissues Ready”: 'Project Hail Mary' With Ryan Gosling Wins Over Audiences and Breaks Amazon Box Office Record

The film adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel — the author of The Martian — Project Hail Mary hit theaters on March 20 and instantly became one of the biggest cinematic events of the year.

The movie earned $12 million from preview screenings alone — the best result of the year so far. Analysts project a $71 million opening weekend, which would set a new record for Amazon MGM Studios. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds 95%, with a 77 score on Metacritic and an 8.5 rating on IMDb.

The film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, with a screenplay by Drew Goddard — the same writer who adapted The Martian. Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a biology teacher who wakes up aboard a spacecraft with no memory, only to realize that the fate of humanity rests on his shoulders. He’s not alone, however: deep in space, he encounters an alien named Rocky — and their friendship becomes the emotional core of the story.

Audiences are reacting strongly. Viewer reviews repeat the same points: Gosling delivers a standout performance, Rocky is deeply moving despite having no face, and the ending hits hard emotionally. Fans of the book especially praise the film’s faithfulness — saying it preserves nearly all key moments from the source material.

For Amazon MGM, the film is a major breakthrough. The studio has been in need of a box office hit, as several recent big-budget projects underperformed. Project Hail Mary appears to have delivered — with its opening surpassing Creed 3’s $58 million debut in 2023 to become the studio’s biggest launch to date.

Have you read the book, or will the movie be your first introduction to the story? Share your thoughts in the comments.