The First Reactions to ‘Project Hail Mary’ Are Out of This World

We’ve been waiting for this for a long time. We read the book. We saw the adaptation news. We glimpsed the trailer. The hype built and built. Now, finally, the film version of Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary is done and ready for your eyeballs.

In the film, Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship alone, with no idea who he is or why he’s there. Slowly, he realizes he’s on a “Hail Mary” mission from Earth to stop a deadly organism that’s eating the Sun. If he’s not successful, everyone on Earth will die. But, soon, he is no longer alone. Another planet has the same problem and, together with a rock alien he names Rocky (James Ortiz), the two will attempt to save their worlds.

Tuesday night, members of the press got a glimpse of the film ahead of its release on March 20, and reactions were pretty universally positive. Which is exciting because directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller haven’t directed a film in years, and fans of the book have been waiting even longer. Here are some of the posts, starting with my own.

#ProjectHailMary is pure joy. Hilarious, heartfelt, hugely moving, wildly exciting and absolutely beautiful. The 160 minutes go by in an instant as Lord and Miller keep Weir’s narrative moving like a rocket ship. Gosling is better than ever and the Rocky effect and mind blowing. pic.twitter.com/OLi6HR3Zxt

— Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) February 25, 2026

#ProjectHailMary is masterful and so beautifully done. A truly heartwarming story of humanity and friendship. A superb performance from Ryan Gosling – a career best. Greig Fraser’s cinematography is exquisite to perfection. pic.twitter.com/MmslrWF7Wl

— Jazz Tangcay (@jazzt) February 25, 2026

#ProjectHailMary is profound and profoundly moving, an absolute masterpiece of hope and humanity. It’s also insanely entertaining – funny, thrilling, surprising and hopeful. As cheesy as it is to say “we need this movie right now,” well, we do. And I’m so thankful it’s here. 🪐🌎 pic.twitter.com/OOYgMXkCJE

— Drew Taylor (@DrewTailored) February 25, 2026

Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s #ProjectHailMary is the iconic duo’s finest hour. Their “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”: a family-friendly, high-concept crowd-pleaser with real blockbuster upside. Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller are out of this world, owning every frame. Adored! pic.twitter.com/nTHEGFRyKg

— Clayton Davis (@ByClaytonDavis) February 25, 2026

I love Lord & Miller’s PROJECT HAIL MARY, a hang out buddy movie only one of the buddies is an alien who does not speak human languages. Very sweet and I had to stop myself from crying at the end because it’s embarrassing. I’ll watch this anytime it’s on the rest of my life

— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) February 25, 2026

Project Hail Mary is PHENOMENAL! This movie is a masterpiece. It is way funnier than I expected it to be, it never feels its runtime, and it is truly heartwarming. I laughed, I cried – I fell in love with Rocky! Ryan Gosling is one of the best working today. WOW! #ProjectHailMary pic.twitter.com/PkhAgZSvqc

— Tessa Smith – Mama’s Geeky (@MamasGeeky) February 25, 2026

Project Hail Mary is the best movie I’ve seen this year. Masterpiece.

The visuals delivered here are tremendously innovative, bending IMAX to its maximum capabilities.

It’s unrelentingly creative and rocks with ideas of connection and humanity. Brilliant movie. pic.twitter.com/fhXAOTg1xb

— Brandon Davis (@BrandonDavisBD) February 25, 2026

Absolutely loved “PROJECT HAIL MARY,” an awe-inspiring & sublimely beautiful masterpiece — everything we go to the movies for! Loaded with heart, humor, excitement & a deeply moving story! Brilliantly directed by PHIL LORD & CHRIS MILLER, magnificent performance by RYAN GOSLING! pic.twitter.com/QyF7g4u6AY

— Scott Mantz 🖖 (@MovieMantz) February 25, 2026

#ProjectHailMary is terrific. Prepare to feel all the emotions (seriously, since I laughed a lot and then had full on tears streaming down my face a couple of times) pic.twitter.com/v4CjcBssJt

— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) February 25, 2026

Of course, those are just some reactions. Many more will come before the film’s March 20 release date, and maybe those will be different. But, with the level of talent that’s on board and the studio’s obvious confidence in the movie showing it this early, it certainly seems like Project Hail Mary lives up to the hype and then some.

Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller and written by Drew Goddard from the novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary stars Gosling, Ortiz, Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, and Priya Kansara. It opens March 20. We’ll have much more soon.

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