Adapted from a Novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary is a science fiction film focused on survival, problem solving and human emotions. Written by the author of The Martian, the film follows his style of science and emotion driven narratives. The Martian, which was adapted into a film in 2016 starring Matt Damon, was nominated for 7 Oscars, setting a high standard for upcoming science fiction movies. Now, Project Hail Mary is on par with The Martian, if not surpassing it in certain aspects.
It starts with the story of a man who wakes up in a space ship 11.9 light years away from earth with no memory of who he is and why he is there. The story progresses with him slowly remembering his memory over time, represented by shifting narrative between the past and present. The film is strong in its storytelling, direction, and setting, but there is one key decision in the plot that reduces its emotional impact.
The story is one of the best parts of the film. It feels fresh and interesting, even though it follows a basic idea of survival in space. The story slowly unfolds as we venture between the past and the present. Every new piece of information adds to the layer of world building. Ryan Gosling also gives a very convincing and layered performance as Ryland Grace.
His way of delivering some of the lines is, in itself, one of the most uplifting aspects of the film. One of the mistakes actors get wrong all the time is using the same delivery of humour for all of the situations. However, Gosling avoids it. You feel the nervousness and uncertainty he carries as he jokes in space with Rocky, while you can feel the optimistic and purposeful feeling on Earth. The joke on Earth makes you laugh, whereas the joke in space makes you tear up. This was one of Ryan Gosling’s best movie performances.
The second half of the Project Hail Mary is just a cinematic highlight. The emotions and tension build over the course of 30 minutes, layering on top of each other. The intensity becomes so strong that you are completely still and can't help but be immersed in the movie. Every minute that goes by raises the stakes for the characters. But when it reaches the pinnacle, it fails to land swiftly.
This is where the film’s weakness appears. The shift back to the past, especially after major emotional buildup, reduced the overall impact. Instead of letting the audience fully feel the weight of the reveal, the film switches to the past. This broke the flow of emotion and diminished the moment. As a result, the emotional payoff does not feel as strong as expected.
In conclusion, Project Hail Mary is a great film with a strong story, great direction, and an impressive cast. The return to the past, at an important moment, reduced its full impact, but it is still an engaging, thoughtful, emotional and spectacular science fiction film that is worth watching. Dare I say: One of the best movies of 2026.
