The most unlikely of friendships will save the universe. That’s something I truly wasn’t expecting in the first live-action movie directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller in 12 years. “Project Hail Mary” is a full-on story of survival, but is spearheaded by the true power of what friendship can accomplish.
I went into my opening night IMAX showing very blind. I knew the general premise of the film, but I haven’t read the book. From what I gathered within five minutes of getting comfortable in my seat was that 90% of the audience at the sold-out showing were all fans of the novel. “Project Hail Mary” has a massive following. From the enormous round of applause once the credits started rolling, I’d say that the adaptation to the big screen was a huge success.
It’s heartwarming, charming, funny, intense at times and far more emotional than I ever thought it would be. If you had told me going into this that a 3D printed rock alien was going to make a grown man teary-eyed, I would’ve laughed at you. But it did, on multiple occasions.
“Project Hail Mary” (2026) Review | An Unlikely Friendship Against All Odds
A Charismatic Ryan Gosling & A Lovable Rock
Ryan Gosling is at the top of his game as our lead, Ryland Grace. He plays a middle school teacher basically turned away from his former career arc because he believed in the unbelievable. But now, he’s the universe’s only hope. Gosling’s charisma is on full display. His charm and humor are undeniable. In my opinion, it’s his best performance as an actor, and my second-favorite performance behind his work in “The Nice Guys.” They’re completely different films and characters, and yet, he displays some similarities in how he delivers. Namely, when it comes to the subtle humor and nerdy jokes. There were numerous occasions on which the audience in the theater audibly cackled out loud together. Not something I was expecting going into this. Gosling was able to connect with his supporting cast member, who isn’t real, and still make you believe all their feelings like they’re your own, which is quite the feat.
We can’t talk about this film, though, without mentioning our main supporting character. The aforementioned rock alien, Rocky. Bravo to James Ortiz, the voice actor, who makes you completely fall in love with our sharp-edged friend from another planet. He’s hilarious, lovable and is the true backbone and definition of that unlikely friend you unexpectedly encounter. The dynamic between him and Gosling has a gravitational pull and will give you the warm fuzzies inside.
Practical Visuals That Blow You Away
The visuals. Man, the visuals! I did a little research into the production of “Project Hail Mary” and it’s nothing short of astounding. There are no green screens used in this. All the sets were practical and handmade. That includes our 3D printed puppet friend. They were able to make everything look about as real as it gets. There are some incredible shots in this revolving around the galaxy. The greens, blues reds, and pinks are as vibrant as can be. Greig Fraser, who won the Academy Award for cinematography with “Dune: Part One,” was in his bag once again here. For the space scenes, he used digital footage and printed it onto film strips, twice, then scanned those strips back onto digital to give it a more real-life look. You’d bet the family farm on it being a green screen, but that’s a bet you’d lose. It’s wild how real it looks.
The Rare Book Adaptation That Gets It Right
The story itself is intriguing, and while it does slightly suffer from odd pacing here and there, you’re still locked in. You want to know if the mission gets accomplished. Will our heroes survive? Will the universe survive? How will they get home? Is there actually a solution to the issue at hand?
I went with a buddy who has read the book, and from his reaction and our chat on the way home, “Project Hail Mary” is a winner for both fans of the book and those who haven’t read it. It’s an extremely successful novel adaptation and one that doesn’t leave out any important pieces. Sure, there are minor pages of the book left out, but it didn’t make a difference when it came to what we saw on screen. I’m incredibly impressed, and I know it’s only March, but this is the best film of 2026 so far by a landslide.
Now, if we can get Phil Lord and Christopher Miller to not take another 12 years off between making their next live-action film, we will all win! I loved “Project Hail Mary,” and Amazon Studios/MGM have a massive success on their hands.
Go see “Project Hail Mary” on the biggest screen at your disposal.
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