‘Project Hail Mary’ Review: 2026’s First Masterpiece

Earning its place right alongside modern sci-fi greats like Interstellar and Arrival, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s Project Hail Mary is a spectacular blend of brains, heart, action, and awe-inspiring visuals that will leave you reminiscing about why you fell in love with the movies.

Overall Score: 10/10

Image: Amazon MGM Studios

With 2025’s awards season having officially come to an end, many have begun to wonder, “Which of this year’s films will go on to contend for Oscar success?” Some have looked to major tentpole releases like Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part 3, and Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day for answers. Meanwhile, others have already penciled in “prestigious” projects that seem like awards shoo-ins — with Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine and Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Digger being among the obvious choices.

Then we have Project Hail Mary, the new Ryan Gosling-led sci-fi space epic, based on Andy Weir’s — of The Martian fame — novel of the same name. I will admit that a March release seems a little risky for a potential Oscar contender, but having seen the film, I’d be shocked if it ends up left out of the awards conversation altogether.

Look, this movie is going to be a major awards player for more reasons than I can count, and no one’s going to convince me otherwise.

Set largely within the empty confines of space, Project Hail Mary follows Dr. Ryland Grace as he wakes up on an interstellar spaceship with no memory of his identity or why he’s aboard. Throughout his journey, recollections of his past begin to return, and he realizes that he’s been sent on a mission to figure out why the Sun is dying. To solve this, he must use every bit of scientific knowledge and ingenuity he has. And who knows, in doing so, he might meet a friend along the way.

From start to finish, Project Hail Mary is an absolute blast. It so deftly balances smarts, humour, and heart as it takes you on one heck of an emotional roller coaster. Should you see it in a packed theater, you’ll experience joy and laughter like you haven’t in a long time. It’s a movie that brings people together, allows us to feel good in the moment, and asks us to hope for a brighter future. In short, it’s a crowd-pleaser in every sense of the word, and I absolutely love that it is.

Much of the movie’s positivity comes courtesy of Ryan Gosling’s effortless charisma and likability. Known for his versatility and range, Gosling has never been better — sorry, Barbie — and he does a phenomenal job of showcasing emotional depth and comic ability through what could very well be his best performance. Some have even positively compared his work here to that of Tom Hanks’, saying he’s delivered the modern equivalent of what the industry veteran achieved with Cast Away. And while that film is, of course, of legendary and near-untouchable status, for my money, I’d say they’re absolutely right.

Project Hail Mary is also a success because of its gorgeous production and technical feats. Everything from the production design to the visual effects is exceptional, with cinematographer Greig Fraser capturing it all in the utmost spectacular fashion. The same can be said of the score, brilliantly composed here by Daniel Pemberton, who’s curiously never been nominated for Best Original Score at the Oscars.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller really have a winner on their hands here. Actor Josh Gad said it best: Project Hail Mary is indeed “the first masterpiece of 2026.” It’s a sci-fi epic that belongs up there with the greats like Interstellar and Arrival. But more importantly, it’s a movie that instills hope and reminds us of why we all fell in love with cinema in the first place. This is hands down the best film of the year (a position I could see it holding onto until the year’s end), and I can’t wait to see it again!