WARNING:If you haven’t run to your local theater to see it yet, read no further, because this review will contain spoilers!
It’s difficult to discuss the triumph of Project Hail Mary without giving too much away, so, for the spoiler-free section of this review, I will sum Project Hail Mary in just three words: Amaze, Amaze, Amaze!
Based on the 2021 novel of the same name by science fiction author Andy Weir, the 2026 intergalactic space adventure from directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller is a delightfully goofy, crowd-pleasing spectacle with tons of heart, lots of laughs, excellent performances from the cast, plus plenty of surprises and a pretty killer soundtrack. It’s also worth noting that it’s a rare gem of originality that stands out amidst the crowded 2026 landscape of reboots, sequels, adaptations, and reimaginings. Together, the book and film versions of Project Hail Mary give us something beautiful, shiny, and new, rather than another Star Wars story or multiversal saga (as much as we enjoy those things, too).
While I wouldn’t deem it crucial to have read the book to enjoy the movie, fans of the book will be happy with the faithfulness of this adaptation, which translates beautifully from page to screen, preserving the cheeky humor of science super-nerd Dr. Ryland Grace and his new pal Rocky as they work together to find a solution that will save both of their home planets from the certain doom of dimming suns.
Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary novel is cinematic in its scope and stakes, and you can feel that it was destined for not only the big screen, but the biggest screen you can possibly find within a reasonable radius. And you’re in for an extra-special treat if you have the opportunity to fully enjoy the visual feast of scenes filmed in 70mm IMAX. Heavy consultation from author Weir (a self-described lifelong space nerd and former software engineer with particular interest in subjects like relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and spaceflight), along with NASA experts, make the science feel authentic and believable.
On top of all the cool science stuff, incredible sets, practical effects, and colorful depictions of outer space, screenwriter Drew Goddard, who also adapted Andy Weir’s 2014 novel The Martian for the screen in 2015, brings the central characters to life beautifully with witty dialogue and excellent narrative pacing that brilliantly honor the poignant themes underpinning the story. Goddard emphasized the film’s emotional core, which, as Goddard himself noted, speaks to things like, “Personal sacrifice. Finding salvation through compassion and empathy. Learning to see the universe through someone else’s eyes.”
With widespread critical praise, audience fanfare, and a projected box office haul pushing past the half-billion mark, Project Hail Mary has quickly become beloved and proven itself a must-see that is genuinely worth the trip to the movies in a cultural moment in time filled with doom, gloom, and inauthenticity, not to mention the unending drudgery of polarizing and overly-politicized plotlines. Project Hail Mary is refreshingly apolitical in 2026, and is a breath of fresh air in contrast, giving us wholesome and humorous moments and largely uncomplicated, unproblematic heroes who do the difficult but right thing, make personal sacrifices, and remain silly while persisting in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Drawing heavily on optimistic themes of hope, courage, and camaraderie, the film also has so much heart; more than a Sci-Fi movie about space exploration, it’s a story about friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice, and there are so many things that it does well, from the quirky, whimsical score by Daniel Pemberton (an immediate add on Spotify for me) to the heartwarming performances turned in by Ryan Gosling and, yes, a faceless rock-like alien creature brought to life by puppeteers and practical effects. In fact, Rocky (the quintapedal extraterrestrial in question) arguably acts with more charm and warmth of character and emotion than the majority of his human peers in Hollywood!
The cosmic adventure that Lord and Miller take us on in Project Hail Mary is charming, hopeful, original, fun, and packed with surprises and unexpectedly emotional scenes. There’s truly something for everyone here. Fans of Grogu will fall in love with Rocky. Lovers of space exploration movies are treated to awesome visuals and astrophotography. Even the iciest and most hardened of hearts may shed a tear at Grace and Rocky’s bromance. It’s a remarkable testament to its commitment to authenticity and the cinematic craftiness of the many talented hands that brought this project to life in such spectacular fashion for moviegoers of all ages to enjoy.
Producer Ryan Gosling, alongside directors Lord and Miller (of Spider-verse acclaim) pushed for the use of practical effects, puppetry, and real, fully constructed sets rather than the overreliance on green- and blue-screens. The Hail Mary spacecraft itself, for instance, was built as two full-scale sets: one to simulate gravity, and another to replicate the environs in zero-gravity.
That same commitment to practical craft extended to the tall order of conjuring up an alien co-star for Gosling. Reading the book, I found myself wondering how the film could possibly capture Rocky’s charm, but the team led by puppeteer James Ortiz truly bring Rocky to life onscreen in a way that is nothing short of masterful. The result is a playful, intelligent, endearing, and deeply emotive character who also somehow manages the impossible feat of cuteness despite not having a face. Production details also convincingly render the world that Rocky comes from, giving the Eridian species a tangible, fully realized presence onscreen that highlights their unique sensory world.
The overall effect of the cast and crew’s attention to detail is a seamless and stunning canvas that brings Grace, Rocky, and the Hail Mary itself to life in a way that far surpassed anything I imagined while reading; in fact, it even made me appreciate the book that much more in hindsight because of how beautifully it translated visually. From Rocky’s technology to the design of his ship and the Xenonite ball he uses onboard the Hail Mary, every detail feels thoughtfully yet playfully constructed, distinct from humankind’s culture yet similar enough to work hand-in-hand with it.
Ultimately, Project Hail Mary is hugely successful in everything it set out to do. It is a beautifully optimistic and surprisingly touching story about friendship, perseverance, selflessness, discovery, and what it truly means to be brave. More than that, it’s a reminder that even in the vast, infinite, and indifferent silence of space, connection is what gives everything meaning.
Our Rating: 8.8
