First Reactions to PROJECT HAIL MARY Call It a “Must-See Space Odyssey” and a Potential Oscar Contender
The first wave of reactions for Project Hail Mary has landed, and if you’re a sci-fi fan, you’re going to want to pay attention. The film recently screened for members of the press and critics are already calling it one of the big cinematic events of 2026.
From praise for its emotional core to hype around its visual scale, this sci-fi adventure is being positioned as both a crowd-pleaser and a serious awards contender.
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and based on the 2021 novel by Andy Weir, the movie follows Ryland Grace, a mild-mannered science teacher who wakes up alone on a spaceship light-years from Earth with no idea how he got there.
As his memory slowly returns, he discovers he’s humanity’s last shot at stopping a mysterious force that’s threatening to extinguish the sun. No pressure.
Ryan Gosling stars in the film, and critics loved him.
Film critic Eric Marchen didn’t hold back, writing on X that Project Hail Mary is “the first great blockbuster of 2026.”
“Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s must-see space odyssey blasts off as the first great blockbuster of 2026,” Marchen wrote. “Out-of-this-world cinematography from Greig Fraser reaches for the stars while anchored by a stellar Ryan Gosling performance. This movie ROCKS!”
That cinematography shoutout goes to Greig Fraser, and from the sound of it, the visuals are as ambitious as the story itself.
Critic Adriano Caporusso highlighted the film’s tone, especially the unexpected heart at its center. He wrote, “Lord & Miller’s latest plays up a ‘Short Circuit’ bromance to an hysterical extreme while simultaneously delivering a pulse-pounding space epic that brings true humanity to the centrestage, but not without some jaw-dropping visuals alongside.”
Not every reaction was flawless praise, but even the more measured takes still leaned positive. Globe and Mail film writer Barry Hertz pointed out a few script issues while making it clear that Gosling’s performance carries the movie across the finish line.
“Not quite faster-than-light script with too many endings and one crucial plot point that evaporates, plus a seeming corporate obligation to Amazon’s ROCKY catalogue, cannot suppress the galaxy-sized charms of Ryan Gosling, ‘INTERSTELLAR’ without all the ~stuff~.”
Entertainment journalist Scott Menzel went even further, predicting major awards attention. He called the film a “masterpiece” and suggested it will be “a major awards player across the board.”
“‘Project Hail Mary’ is an epic cinematic achievement,” Menzel wrote. “Phil Lord and Chris Miller somehow manage to raise the bar once again, delivering what is not only their most ambitious film to date, but arguably their most accomplished.”
TV host Jeff Conway shared his enthusiasm, praising the film’s emotional weight alongside its spectacle. “A successfully sophisticated blend of humor, sci-fi, drama and suspense. Ryan Gosling is the shining star of this compassionate story about connection and defying the odds, while Sandra Hüller is the tender heart of this beautiful film.”
Speaking of Sandra Hüller, she’s part of a strong supporting cast that also includes Milana Vayntrub, Ken Leung, Liz Kingsman and James Ortiz.
Fans got an early tease at Comic Con 2025 when Gosling appeared with Miller, Lord and screenwriter Drew Goddard to debut the film’s first five minutes. At the time, Gosling opened up about what drew him to Ryland Grace and why the character hit close to home.
“I connected to his reluctance,” he said. “Aside from the fact he has a doctorate in molecular biology, he’s an ordinary person in an extraordinary situation. He reacts to a lot of things the way I might or a lot of us might.
“He’s terrified appropriately of the task at hand. He’s somebody who gave up on himself on Earth, and he’s given an opportunity to believe in himself again. It’s inspiring to go through this journey with him because he somehow finds the courage to put one foot in front of the other and keep going.”
That emotional hook seems to be what’s separating Project Hail Mary from your typical space spectacle. It’s not just about saving the sun. It’s about a guy who didn’t think he had much left to offer, suddenly carrying the weight of the universe and finding something inside himself he didn’t know was there.
With early reactions calling it a “must-see space odyssey” and tossing around serious awards talk, Project Hail Mary sounds like it’s going to be an awesome movie-going experience!