What Critics Are Saying About Ryan Gosling’s Big-Budget Space Movie ‘Project Hail Mary’
Anticipation is mounting for the release of Amazon MGM’s highly anticipated space film, Project Hail Mary, featuring Ryan Gosling in the lead role.
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the film is projected to debut with over $50 million at the box office, riding on a production budget exceeding $150 million. In the story, Gosling plays Ryland Grace, a school teacher who wakes up alone on a spacecraft far from Earth. As his memories resurface, he realizes he has a crucial mission: to stop a mysterious substance that threatens the sun and, ultimately, Earth. An unexpected friendship may prove essential to his quest, with Sandra Hüller among the supporting cast.
Early reviews are enthusiastic, indicating the film could be a major critical success. Set to open on March 20, Project Hail Mary currently holds a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on over 70 reviews.
Empire awarded the film 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as “a very watchable old-school blockbuster crowd-pleaser,” adding, “Ryan Gosling and an alien made of rocks are the best space-based double-act since R2-D2 and C3-PO.”
USA Today lauded it as “the first great movie of 2026,” emphasizing that “the science is accessible and Ryan Gosling is a superb everyman in the excellent space adventure.”
In a 4 out of 5 star review, the BBC’s Nicholas Barber acknowledged the film’s lengthy runtime of 2.5 hours but noted, “it manages to be zippily entertaining throughout.”
Indiewire praised Gosling’s performance, stating he “goes full ‘Martian,’ and thank the heavens for that… in this enormously entertaining and genuinely inspiring adaptation of Andy Weir’s other smash hit novel set in space.”
Robbie Collin from The Telegraph also rated it 4 out of 5 stars, calling it “great fun… with flashy practical effects and a heart-warming story.” He likened Project Hail Mary to a medley of beloved sci-fi films.
Gizmodo expressed its approval, remarking, “it’s got laughs, it’s got stakes, it’s got emotions, it’s got it all. And all of it is viewed through stunning visuals on every level.”
The Irish Times characterized it as a “sentimental treat,” while the Times of London highlighted Gosling’s captivating presence, describing it as “out of this world.”
The Independent also gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, noting it as “immensely likeable and technically impressive, even if it has the whiff of top-shelf nostalgia.”
The Guardian assigned a score of 3 out of 5 stars, stating that while “Ryan Gosling’s charm carries an unserious last-ditch space mission,” the film is “a bit silly, but Gosling’s charisma keeps it watchable.”
