Project Hail Mary makes a great escape into outer space

Project Hail Mary is the latest great space caper hitting movie theaters this spring. “That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” and Ryan Gosling's career just flew over the moon.

The audience is thrust into space with the protagonist Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling. The astronaut wakes up solo in a morgue as he slowly realizes his fellow crew members are dead. The team was sent on a mission to the Tau Ceti system in an attempt to save the Earth from a dying sun and there is only one survivor.

This leaves Grace feeling lonely and only able to adjust mentally through flashback scenes. He eventually discovers an alien to interact with, which he names Rocky. This leads the duo on a new mission of understanding others and they learn to work together to accomplish a mutual goal.

Based on a novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary was adapted by Drew Goddard, who had previously produced a similar task for The Martian, a 2011 film starring another likable character exploring the universe, Matt Damon.

Two directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, brought their individual visions to life together, much like Ryland and Rocky. This dynamic duo has produced what is already one of the best films of 2026. Their previous experience with animation and 21 Jump Street has served them well, but this Project has taken them out of this world into new territory.

The cast is outstanding and supportive of the lead, often conveyed through Grace's memories. Sandra Hüller portrays Eva Stratt, the head of Project Hail Mary and James Ortiz not only voices Rocky, but is also the lead puppeteer.

The real find here is Gosling, who is well cast as the quirky Ryland and he's genuinely funny while running around in his striped crew socks. Ryan carries most of the movie on his shoulders and he's well cast as the quirky, nerdy and smart Ryland. It's important to have a watchable and magnetic performer in the part for the audience to adhere to. It says something that personality can carry someone a long way, even into outer space.

This is a story similar in some ways to the film Castaway with Tom Hanks and Wilson, the volleyball. There are long stretches of no dialogue and having a buddy to play around with is crucial to keep things moving.

Project Hail Mary is a feast for the eyes with striking imagery and powerful cinematography. Seeing his journey on an IMAX screen is recommended instead of waiting to stream it at home.

Project Hail Mary is appropriate for all ages and will be a crowd pleaser to almost everyone. Hail Mary is a worthy Project for both the creatives and audiences around the globe.

Amazon MGM Studios releases Project Hail Mary on March 20, 2026.