'Project Hail Mary' is a Hilariously Exciting Sci-Fi Spectacle

You may be surprised to find out that the first big hit of 2026 is a science fiction movie directed by the duo that made the 21 and 22 Jump Street movies. When you think of a meme of Channing Tatum saying "my name Jeff", it may not evoke confidence in a director's emotional range or scientific accuracy. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are also well known for directing The Lego Movie, which should give them a better reputation for an ability to make a fun crowd-pleaser.

However, the stakes are higher when it comes to adapting an Andy Weir novel. The 2015 film, The Martian, also based on a popular Andy Weir novel, was generally praised for its faithfulness to the novel and its commitment to staying true to the science while providing an exciting watch for any audience. The good news is that Project Hail Mary's screenwriter is the same as The Martian's, Drew Goddard. I was excited to watch this movie as I was a big fan of The Martian film and novel, and I consider myself a pretty loyal Ryan-Gosling-enjoyer. I'd also consider myself more of a space-nerd than most, considering I work on reusable rockets 40+ hours a week.

Project Hail Mary follows the story of the genius science teacher, Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), waking up alone aboard an interstellar ship lightyears away from Earth, with no memory of who he is or why he is there. As Grace grieves over the circumstances, we begin to learn the circumstances that brought him there through brief memory sequences. It turns out, an alien light-eating microorganism called astrophage (think black goop) is eating the sun. The density of this organism on the surface of the sun dims the star and the impact to Earth's climate would lead to millions of deaths from starvation if nothing were done. Alarmingly, the astrophage seem to be dimming all other nearby stars except one, Tau Ceti, 12 light years away from Earth. This is where our underemployed molecular biologist waking up on the Hail Mary comes in. He wouldn't be alone for long, as he encounters an alien friend, Rocky (James Ortiz). Grace and Rocky work together throughout the movie, providing an abundance of laughs and maybe a couple tears as they struggle to save their respective worlds.

The world of Project Hail Mary is a grim one. Faced with a near certain extinction, humanity's only hope is to send a quirky science teacher lightyears away, with no real plan, just hoping that he would figure it out. The movie is anything but bleak though. Gosling brings his most family-friendly, comic-relief acting to the table. I can guarantee that you will leave this movie with one-liners memorized and a big smile on your face. There are also some exceptionally beautiful scenes that were wonderful to take in on the big screen. Any movie that can fill me with such awe and wonder at the beauty of creation that must exist in other worlds deserves sufficient praise. However, the movie isn't just a pretty sci-fi comedy. There are some truly exciting scenes that will increase your heart-rate, and some tear-jerking scenes that might lubricate your eyelids.

I wouldn't walk into this movie expecting anything philosophically challenging or scientifically dense, go watch Arrival or Interstellar for that, which never compromise their depth for a wider reach. Throughout the movie, Grace struggles with a sense of purpose, questioning if he is worthy of the duty he has been given or if he were fated to be a coward. The central question becomes: Is Grace capable of the kind of self-sacrifice required to save humanity? The fate of humanity is a heavy weight to bear, and Grace is uncertain on if he has the courage to sacrifice all that he has to save the world. The resolution to this seems to be that courage doesn't come from within, and that love for a single person would be enough of a catalyst for tremendous courage. I'm reminded of the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John where he says "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." The greek word, agape (ἀγάπη) is used here, a word associated with charity and sacrifice. This love that has been extended to us that we may extend it to others is on full display in the final act of the film. However, this heavier theme often takes a back seat to the humor of Grace & Rocky, and the novelty of new worlds and alien life.

I was impressed with Lord & Miller's ability to make an Andy Weir novel into a fun, exciting crowd pleaser. I haven't read the book, but I get the impression the majority of the science was distilled into a more palatable presentation for a wide audience. But what remains is a visually stunning and hilarious movie about a unique friendship, and a sacrificial love that just might save many worlds.