Ryan Gosling’s highly anticipated space epic “Project Hail Mary” is drawing widespread critical acclaim ahead of its March 20 theatrical debut, with reviewers calling it one of the best films of the year so far.
The Amazon MGM production, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, follows Mr. Gosling as Ryland Grace, a schoolteacher-turned-biologist who wakes up alone on a spaceship light-years from Earth. With his memory slowly returning, he uncovers a desperate mission: stop a mysterious substance from destroying the sun and, with it, all life on Earth. His only companion is an unlikely alien ally nicknamed Rocky. Sandra Huller co-stars in a supporting role.
The film currently holds a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes from more than 70 reviews.
Deadline’s Pete Hammond called it “an entertaining and engaging piece of science fiction” and said it was a movie “made for Imax,” adding that it suggests humanity must band together to survive.
USA Today went further, declaring it “the first great movie of 2026” and praising Mr. Gosling as “a superb everyman” in what the outlet described as an excellent space adventure.
Empire awarded the film four out of five stars, likening the chemistry between Mr. Gosling’s character and his rocky alien companion to the beloved dynamic between R2-D2 and C-3PO.
The BBC’s Nicholas Barber also gave the film four stars, noting that despite a runtime of two and a half hours, Mr. Lord and Mr. Miller managed to keep things “zippily entertaining throughout.” Mr. Barber praised the directors for filling the film with “mind-stretching concepts” and technical puzzles rather than action set pieces — and declared it an “extraordinary achievement.”
Indiewire drew a favorable comparison to “The Martian,” writing that Mr. Gosling goes “full Martian” in an “enormously entertaining and genuinely inspiring” adaptation of Mr. Weir’s novel.
The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin, also awarding four stars, called it “great fun” with “flashy practical effects and a heart-warming story,” describing it as a “medley of all your favourite sci-fi films.”
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