Back in 2015, Sir Ridley Scott directed Matt Damon to critical acclaim in a sci-fi epic called The Martian. Based on Andy Weir’s hit novel, the story follows an astronaut stranded alone on Mars, who has to creatively adapt to survive in his long wait for rescue. Now Weir’s latest book, Project Hail Mary, has had the big screen treatment, in a plot following another isolated astronaut played by Ryan Gosling. Presented out of chronological order, the Oscar-nominee plays a bumbling physics teacher who has a PhD relevant to saving the world. It’s not long before Sandra Hüller’s blunt administrator hires him for the Hail Mary project, aptly named, given the mission’s highly unlikely success. Without going into too much detail at risk of spoilers, the film opens with Grace awakening on a spaceship from an induced coma, a few years travel from Earth. Lacking key memories and discovering he’s alone, a strange alien craft approaches his ship and starts communicating with him.
Much like The Martian, Project Hail Mary is more hard sci-fi, involving a what-if scenario puzzle-solving for our solo astronaut, except this time with the aid of an alien who happens to be on the same mission as him. All of this is thoroughly entertaining across the 2 and a half hour runtime, all the more aided by almost constant laugh-out-loud moments, especially in the film’s first half. This is undoubtedly thanks to directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who are well known for their improvisational comedy, though at times it verges on silliness overkill.
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Nevertheless, Drew Goddard, who also penned The Martian script, holds it all together, especially in the more touching and emotional moments between Grace and his new alien buddy Rocky. Speaking of the latter, this ET is refreshingly otherworldly for once. Although the chances that an alien would have the same moral compass as a 21st century Western Earthling is the most unbelievable aspect of the story. Letting that slip, the story is enthralling with well-developed, charming characters, laughs, tears, and wonder via spectacular cosmic visuals on the big screen, making this an epic return for blockbuster popcorn cinema.
Project Hail Mary is in previews on March 14 and 15 and on general release in UK cinemas from March 19, 2026.
