Nerdly » ‘Project Hail Mary’ Review

20th Mar2026

‘Project Hail Mary’ Review

by Matthew Turner

Stars: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, Priya Kansara | Written by Drew Goddard, Andy Weir | Directed by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Ryan Gosling heads into space to save the world in lavish sci-fi adventure Project Hail Mary, based on the book by Andy Weir, who also wrote the novel that The Martian was based on. It’s co-directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and though it might occasionally feel derivative of other space adventure movies, it’s also a feel-good treat of the first order and one of the best films of the year.

Gosling plays Ryland Grace, a high school science teacher who wakes up on a spacecraft light years from Earth, with no memory of how he got there. Gradually, he pieces together what has happened and realises that he’s effectively on a one-man mission to save the Earth by identifying an alien substance that might stop the sun from cooling and causing a global extinction event.

Accordingly, flashback sequences detail how Ryland ended up in space after being initially recruited as an advisor by mission official Eva Stratt (Sandra Huller). Meanwhile, events take an unexpected turn when Ryland encounters a rock-like alien (who he quickly nicknames Rocky) and they discover that they both share the same mission objective.

If that synopsis makes you think that Project Hail Mary sounds like a cleverly constructed blend of Interstellar, The Martian and E.T. (with maybe a bit of First Man, Gosling’s other outer space movie, thrown in for good measure), then you would be right. However, despite the fact that its central plot concepts are derivative, the film still has its own distinct identity, and it functions beautifully as an imaginative, feel-good space adventure in its own right.

Part of that is down to Gosling’s wonderful central performance. His goofy, laidback charm is completely perfect for Ryland, and he’s a joy to watch in every scene. Similarly, the bond he creates with Rocky (voiced by James Ortiz) is utterly adorable, particularly after he fashions a computer translator that means they can communicate in rudimentary (and frequently comic) fashion.

There’s also strong support from Huller, who takes what could have been a very unsympathetic character and finds a layer of humanity underneath. On that note, there is a particular moment of betrayal that is beautifully played, and it’s difficult to imagine anyone else pulling it off in the same way.

Lord and Miller (The Lego Movie, the Spider-Verse franchise) have a proven track record when it comes to feel-good movies with strong comedy elements, and they are on fine form here. They also have a terrific sense of pace – it’s a testament to their direction and to Gosling’s performance that the initially daunting 2 hour 45 minute running time just flies past. Indeed, if anything, you’ll come out wanting more.

In addition, the technical craft of the movie is extremely impressive. There is a lot of CGI work, yes, but there’s also a lot of practical effects work, and it’s nearly impossible to see the joins. In particular, the design of Rocky’s spindly spaceship is simply extraordinary and deserves to be seen on the biggest screen you can find – which is just as well, since this is widely screening in IMAX format.

In short, Project Hail Mary is something of a treat, a feel-good save-the-world sci-fi space adventure that delivers laughs and powerful emotion, without skimping on the science. Don’t miss it.