Based on the best-selling novel of the same title by author Andy Weir, who also penned The Martian, Project Hail Mary will finally arrive in cinemas this weekend after much anticipation from book and movie fans alike. The sci-fi epic stars Ryan Gosling (Barbie) as science teacher Ryland Grace, who wakes up on a spaceship lightyears from home with no recollection of how he got there or who he is. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone. Blending humor and heart effortlessly whilst impressing with stunning visuals, an intriguing story and and excellent lead performance, Project Hail Mary is the best of the year and may stay that way for some time.
Ryan Gosling is a heavily acclaimed actor and rightly so, but one aspect of his talent that often slips under the radar is his comedic timing. Project Hail Mary not only shows how naturally hilarious Gosling can be, but how masterfully he can balance emotion. Despite being ridiculously clever, Ryland Grace is an everyman, meaning Gosling’s natural charm and likability is key here. He might have a wealth of knowledge that most of us would never dream of possessing, but working as a school teacher and being reluctant to help the cause due to doubting his bravery, he’s someone we can easily get behind. Carrying the film on his back with ease, Gosling gives perhaps one of the best turns of his career to date. He makes us laugh with his superb delivery and physicality, but when the time comes, he can easily make us shed a tear alongside him as he makes sacrifices and difficult moral choices. It’s often a one-man show due to Grace being in his ship for the majority of the run-time, but we are also blessed with good supporting performances from Sandra Huller (Anatomy of a Fall) and Lionel Boyce (The Bear).
In terms of a sci-fi blockbuster, Project Hail Mary has every single ingredient needed to make virtually all audience members have a blast. Visually it’s a masterpiece, with consistently playful cinematography, masses of vibrant colour and some of the best space shots we’ve seen in years. Worth seeing on the biggest screen available to you, specifically IMAX due to the ratio changes, it’s nothing short of a spectacle. The audio matches this grandiose perfectly, with an excellent original score from Daniel Pemberton (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) that balances the films fun and emotional tones expertly, and clever use of sound design that utilises silence and noise to create further impact. The production design is off the charts, with every set boasting something unique to the heavily saturated sci-fi genre. Despite the majority of the movie being set on one ship, the entire space is used and it’s kept as engaging as possible. From a large room that stimulates earthly phenomenons including beaches and fireworks, to the tunnel that joins Ryland to his new found friend, there’s a lot on offer that we haven’t seen before.
Perhaps most importantly of all, Project Hail Mary offers a new Grogu-esque alien character for audiences to fall in love with named Rocky. He might not be as visually adorable as our Star Wars offering, but by the time the credits roll, audiences are likely to love him just as much. Just like his human counterpart Ryland Grace, Rocky is funny and charming whilst also being ridiculously smart. An engineer with his own language, visual look and method of communication, Rocky portrays an alien life form very different from anything we’ve seen in pop culture before. Rocky has the ability to make us laugh until our stomachs hurt, struggling with the English language and rolling around like a lost puppy, but he equally impresses us with his smarts and emotional capabilities. The story is very entertaining before Rocky comes along, the science-heavy jargon being explained extremely well to help audiences have a full grasp on the stakes our planet faces. However, once Rocky shows up and the pair start working together to save their respective planets, Project Hail Mary becomes a different beast all together. The script not only explores the possibility of a life outside of humanity but themes of connection, friendship, sacrifice and most importantly, bravery. Rocky and Ryland, through learning to communicate and problem-solve as one, learn more about themselves than they do each other. With thought-provoking moral dilemmas and high stakes, it’s impossible not to root for the pair on their dysfunctional, heartfelt journey.
Project Hail Mary is not only the best film 2026 has to offer so far, but may be one of the most impressive science fiction outings we’ve had this decade. Hopefully paving the way for a new generation to fall in love with the genre through its mesmerizing visuals and loveable characters, it’s an achievement in all areas that should be seen and celebrated everywhere. From Ryan Gosling’s fantastic performance to Lord and Miller’s exceptional direction whilst bringing the novel to life, Project Hail Mary is a triumph. By the filmmaking team managing to include something for everyone, Rocky and Grace have the ability to find a way into all our hearts.
