I wasn’t expecting my favorite film of 2026 to be released in the first quarter of the year, but I’m almost positive that’s what just happened with Project Hail Mary. The newest adaptation of one of Andy Weir’s novels, once again adapted by Drew Goddard (The Martian), is a heartfelt story of friendship and the ultimate goodness of creation, told against the backdrop of genuinely funny dry humor, incredible writing, and mise-en-scène that serves to elevate the film, never distracts from it.
Ryan Gosling portrays a middle school science teacher, Ryland Grace, who wakes up aboard a spaceship with no memory of why or how he got there. Through brilliantly-placed flashbacks, Grace and the audience slowly learn more about Project Hail Mary, the astrophage (a mysterious organism eating the sun), and the days leading up to the launch of the Hail Mary. Both timelines come together beautifully to create a cohesive, purpose-driven story with neither timeline relying too heavily on the other.
Before long, Grace discovers he’s not alone on his mission … or in the galaxy. He meets and befriends a rock alien, whom he aptly names ‘Rocky’ (James Ortiz), on his own mission to save his sun. The last surviving member of their respective teams, the two decide to partner together in hopes of discovering the antidote that can save both their planets.
For much of the film, Gosling is alone in his scenes or co-starring alongside a rock (but if anyone can befriend a rock, it’s Ryan Gosling) and he is able to command the screen in a way not many other actors could. The film doesn’t have a dull moment — something that feels surprising considering the heavy scientific subject matter — the lack of co-stars for Gosling, and the limitations of a film set in space.
The true beauty of Project Hail Mary comes in its simplicity. It knows exactly what it is doing and what it wants to say, and the filmmakers don’t dilute that message by spelling it out too clearly or adding unnecessary storylines. Grace isn’t an overly-flawed character who needs this adventure in space to learn to be a better person or learn to love. He’s single and content with it. He doesn’t feel the need to be a hero (nor is he necessarily convinced he can’t be) and he has a job he’s happy with. All of this sets Grace up well to star in a story that’s more about what it means to be human than it is about any one person’s experience.
Though neither Andy Weir nor directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller publicly identify as religious, it’s impossible to ignore the Christian themes woven into the film. True, a Hail Mary is a common term for a last-ditch effort, but Gosling’s character is called Grace, a word intrinsically tied to the traditional Christian prayer. So yes, humanity must make a last-ditch effort to save the sun, but it can’t be done without Grace or the goodness of creation to see the intrinsic value in other creatures.
In short, Project Hail Mary achieves the near impossible: it reminds us what it means to be human, the goodness art can bring to our lives, and our need for grace.
