Project Hail Mary

This is the thirty‑third movie I’ve seen in 2026, and Project Hail Mary is easily the most enjoyable, satisfying, and memorable film of the year so far. Even those not typically drawn to science fiction will likely enjoy this film.  I finished reading Andy Weir’s novel just weeks before seeing the movie, and this is one of the rare cases where the film improves on an already strong book.

Project Hail Mary follows the novel closely but wisely trims much of the dense pseudoscience detail. While the book’s scientific explanations are impressive, they occasionally bog down the story. The film cuts through that clutter and focuses on the emotional core: a human forming an unexpected bond with an extraterrestrial intelligent being.

© − All right reserved.

Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a reluctant scientist pushed into studying the organism that is dimming the sun and ultimately forced into a long-shot space mission to discover how to stop the dimming. Gosling is perfectly cast; it’s hard to imagine another actor convincingly navigating Grace’s transformation from middle‑school teacher to scientist to astronaut. His performance is restrained and human—confident but never arrogant, flawed yet deeply likable.

Rocky, the faceless nonhuman counterpart, is brought to life primarily through animatronic puppetry by James Ortiz. Computer Generated Images – CGI  – is used sparingly only when necessary. The choice pays off. Rocky feels tangible and expressive, and his interactions with Gosling feel natural and sincere in a way full CGI might not have achieved.

Everything works in Project Hail Mary: the excellent and well‑placed soundtrack, the effective visual effects, and the surprisingly moving relationship at its center. It’s a two‑and‑a‑half‑hour film that never drags, never bores, and stays engaging throughout. And be honest—when Rocky is injured, you felt a little sad.

© − All right reserved.

Published March 23, 2026