Project Hail Mary

I have to admit, I’d been hearing the buzz around Project Hail Mary for well over a year before finally sitting down to watch it. Like a lot of people, my first introduction to Andy Weir’s work was The Martian, and I absolutely loved that film. Now I’ll be completely honest, I’m not a huge book reader. Movies and television have always been more my thing. But I’ve consistently heard that Andy Weir’s stories translate incredibly well to the screen, and that’s partly because he remains heavily involved in the adaptation process.

After watching Project Hail Mary, I can absolutely understand why so many people were excited. This wasn’t just good. This was something special. In fact, I’ll go one step further. This has already become one of my favourite films of all time. I’ve watched it three times already, and every viewing has somehow been just as enjoyable as the first.

One thing worth mentioning before we go any further is Rocky. If you’ve seen the trailers, you’ll already know that an alien character is part of the story. Readers of the novel will know that Rocky’s introduction was originally a much bigger reveal that arrived much later in the book. When the trailers dropped, some fans were disappointed because they felt a major surprise had been given away. Personally, I didn’t feel that at all. Knowing Rocky existed didn’t take away from the experience. If anything, it made me even more excited to see how the relationship would play out on screen.

And that relationship is the heart and soul of this movie.

The Performances

Ryan Gosling is absolutely brilliant as Ryland Grace. He’s funny, awkward, intelligent, charming and incredibly easy to root for. What I loved most is that Grace genuinely feels like a teacher. You can see how much he enjoys explaining things and helping people understand the world around them. That warmth shines through the entire film and makes the character instantly likeable.

Sandra Hüller is equally fantastic as Eva Stratt. The scenes between her and Gosling are some of the strongest in the film. They have a really interesting dynamic that constantly keeps the story moving forward, and every flashback sequence adds another layer to both characters.

The structure of the movie is also remarkably well handled. The story jumps between Grace’s mission in space and events back on Earth, but it never feels confusing or messy. The transitions are smooth, the pacing is excellent, and every flashback arrives exactly when it needs to.

Visually, this movie is stunning. If you have the opportunity to watch it on the biggest screen possible, do it. IMAX is absolutely the way to go. The contrast between the vast emptiness of space and the grounded moments back on Earth creates a real sense of scale. There are several sequences that genuinely left me sitting there with a huge smile on my face. The opening alone is fantastic and immediately pulls you into the mystery of what’s happening.

The supporting cast also deserves a lot of credit. Lionel Boyce is excellent as Carl, bringing warmth and humour whenever he’s on screen. Every character feels important and every performance feels believable.

Then There’s Rocky

Somehow, this film managed to make the entire world fall in love with what is essentially a rock. James Ortiz does an incredible job bringing Rocky to life. Through voice work, performance and visual effects, Rocky becomes one of the most lovable movie characters I’ve seen in years.

The friendship between Grace and Rocky is what elevates Project Hail Mary from a very good science fiction film into something truly memorable. Their relationship starts in an unusual place, as you’d expect, but gradually develops into one of the most genuine friendships I’ve seen on screen in a long time. There are moments of humour, moments of tension and several surprisingly emotional scenes that completely caught me off guard.

What I particularly loved was Grace’s character arc. When we first meet him, he’s uncertain, hesitant and filled with self doubt. As the story unfolds and more pieces of the puzzle come together, we begin to see him grow into someone capable of far more than he ever believed. By the time the story reaches its final act, you’re watching a completely different person. The growth feels earned. The decisions feel earned. And the emotional payoff lands beautifully.

As for what didn’t work, honestly, there isn’t much for me to criticise here. Some viewers may find the scientific explanations a little dense at times, and if you’re not a fan of movies that spend time exploring ideas and problem solving, there may be a few moments where the pace slows for you. For me, though, that’s part of the appeal. The film trusts its audience. It embraces science without becoming inaccessible, and it balances those concepts with humour and heart.

Final Thoughts

Project Hail Mary is everything I want from great science fiction. It’s smart without being arrogant. It’s emotional without being manipulative. It’s funny without undercutting the drama. And at its core, it tells a deeply human story wrapped inside an enormous space adventure.

This is absolutely a film I can see myself revisiting again and again over the years. And if you’ve somehow managed to avoid it until now, make some time for it. I genuinely think it’s one of the best science fiction films of the last decade.