Finding Friendship in Unlikely Places: Project Hail Mary (2026) | Film Review

Project Hail Mary will linger on your mind, the sentiment of finding friendship in unlikely places, the idea of holding the world future in your hands, the concept of saving everything you’ve ever known. Project Hail Mary builds a world of beauty and fills it with charming character who you are able to bond with instantly. 

If you’re familiar with Andy Weir’s previous novel ‘The Martian’ and Ridley Scott’s 2015 film adaptation, Project Hail Mary takes a very similar tone. The primary similarities aren’t space or time but human perseverance and hope. Project Hail Mary at its core is a story about friendship, a deeply heart warming and eye watering account of companionship and finding harmony in moments of turmoil and fear. 

Ryan Gosling is an effortless comic, he has impeccable timing that comes in handy for his role as Ryland Grace. Gosling is the heartbeat of this film, he is the catalyst that keeps the audience engaged and he quickly proved himself as an actor with emotional depth and range. James Ortiz brought to life the voice of Rocky in a beautifully soft and memorable way, the pair had unbreakable chemistry that translated through the screen. Sandra Hüller also gave a stern but heartwarming performance, acting as the forthright decision maker with a heavy weight on her shoulders, her role was small but integral to Grace’s journey and progression. 

Aside from the gripping character arcs and touching relationships in this film, visually it is a feast for the eyes. Project Hail Mary is effortlessly magnificent. The cinematography is outstanding and every inch of the frame is filled with detail and purpose. The dazzling colour palette and jaw dropping practical effects will leave you bewildered. Project Hail Mary is a demonstration of passionate filmmaking, no corners were cut to execute this films beauty, utilising the full potential of practical effects and VFX. Everything you see is real, the constructed spaceship sets and props along with the physical puppet and animatronic operated by multiple puppeteers in the form of Rocky. Utilising practical effects doesn’t just allow Ryan Gosling to act alongside a real, present character but it enhancing the film's authenticity and emotional core for the audience. We also get to feel the chemistry and understand the connection. Not to mention the absolutely breathtaking VFX team who brought to life those moments outside of the ship. 

Project Hail Mary was filmed For IMAX® and the directors worked closely with IMAX to deliver a breathtaking piece of storytelling that belongs on the big screen. Project Hail Mary doesn’t fall into the same category as other science fiction epics, this film doesn’t leave you feeling lost, it isn’t a dystopian narrative that evokes fear or anxiety. Instead, Project Hail Mary is a story inspired by a need for optimism. Ryan Gosling’s Grace is a relatable science teacher, he is a fully fledged character that I found myself falling deeper and deeper in love with. Gosling was able to act as the films core whilst injecting humour and realism into the scientific jargon. 

Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller have brought to life a number of comedic, outlandish features. Project Hail Mary feels like a step in the right direction, they have an eye for nuance, finding the beauty in the most simple moments, finding comedy in heartache and sharing musical choices at the perfect moments. Project Hail Mary is a cinematic feat, this film took courage to execute, it took skill to materialise from page to screen and it was worth every moment. Overall, Project Hail Mary is a film that deserves time, time to discuss, time to relish in its beauty and time to digest. This is almost a three hour long intense storytelling of friendship, loss, loneliness and responsibility, it is heavy on the heart and lingers on the mind but every moment captures this films beautiful sentiment of overwhelming positivity. In moments of exhaustion, when life seems impossible and the world is dying, we can still find hope. 

If this films plot doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, maybe knowing practical effects were utilised will. When a film has this much depth you are able to fall into the world built around the characters you can easily fall in love with. The raw beauty of life.

★★★★.5 Probe Points