In 2026, Hollywood eagerly anticipated the newest book-to-film adaptation that combined elements of popular films such as “Interstellar,” “E.T.,” and “The Martian,” as well as Pixar Studios. “Project Hail Mary” delivers a seamless blend of the heart, comedy and science fiction elements of these movies. The newest release from Amazon MGM Studios stars Ryan Gosling and is based on the critically acclaimed book of the same name by author Andy Weir. 

Abandoned in space with no memory, Ryan Gosling plays the character of Ryland Grace. Ryland is a sixth-grade science teacher who found himself on a spaceship with no memory. As the film develops, audiences quickly learn that Ryland was forced against his will to be sent on a suicide mission to save the Sun from dimming. With nearly all of the film taking place on the spaceship, Gosling is left to flex his acting skills in a solo performance, as the rest of the crew has passed. While Gosling captures the elements of grief, amnesia and discovery that come with being abandoned in space, the lack of character development and relationships in this film can cause certain moments to feel lackluster. 

However, what “Project Hail Mary” does capture excellently is Ryland’s relationship with his one and only friend, Rocky the Alien. When audiences meet Rocky halfway through the film, Gosling delivers amusing and heartwarming scenes as he creates a mechanism that allows Rocky and Ryland to communicate. The initial scenes and moments of interaction between Ryland and Rocky are some of the most precious in the entire film.

“Project Hail Mary” is certainly a delight for any viewer who is captivated by astronomy and biology. The dialogue of this film is packed with scientific language and a rather complicated description of the mission. As a viewer who was not familiar with the book, I found the overly technical language and explanations to be a turn-off in this movie. This film wrestles with capturing a full-length novel into a shortened film adaptation. As a result, there is almost no time for audiences who are not familiar with sci-fi or the book to gain an understanding of the mission. 

One of the other noticeable flaws of this film, I would argue, is the pacing. With a two-and-a-half-hour run time, “Project Hail Mary” does not go by fast. Gosling delivers a strong but mostly solo performance for almost the first half of the movie, before audiences are even introduced to Rocky. Even with sequences set to music and several flashbacks that feature other minor characters, the lack of dialogue and slower pacing could be jarring for audiences who are expecting a packed sci-fi film. 

Yet, do not be discouraged because the second half of this film truly shines as Ryland builds a heartfelt friendship with Rocky. “Project Hail Mary” is an example of a film that starts slow, yet finishes with a vibrant and climactic ending.

Upon my initial viewing of the movie, I strongly encourage viewers to see it in an IMAX theater to fully appreciate the stellar outer space cinematography. There are several breathtaking, colorful shots in the second half of this film that truly deliver the wow factor that I was expecting. After watching it in a non-IMAX theatre, I was eager to experience certain moments of the film on a higher quality of screen. If “Project Hail Mary” is on your list of movies to see, it is definitely worth seeing in a theater. Despite the film's pacing errors, “Project Hail Mary” remains one of the most anticipated films of 2026 and delivered a memorable movie theatre viewing experience. 

Tags: Review

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