Project Hail Mary: An Interstellar Friendship
By Ella Cocchi ’29
On March 20, 2026, Project Hail Mary, a science fiction film based on the 2021 book by Andy Weir, debuted in theaters, and seems to be bound for great commercial success. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller with a budget of $248 million, making it one of Amazon MGM’s most expensive films to date, Project Hail Mary follows a science teacher named Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling. He wakes up on a spaceship lightyears from earth having no idea how he got there, with all of his crewmates dead. Soon, he realizes that it is up to him to save Earth from a bacteria that is infecting the sun. He enlists the help of an alien named Rocky, who is in a similar situation with his home planet. The story alternates between Ryland’s life on the spaceship and flashbacks that explain how he came to be on the ship. I found the movie to be engaging and heart-warming, with elements of mystery and adventure.
Project Hail Mary was well-received by both the public and critics, earning a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers praised the film for its focus on a feel-good emotional core and accurate portrayal of its technical, scientific elements. Ryland’s friendship with Rocky serves as the emotional and thematic center of the story. I left the movie theater thinking about their relationship, and how they were able to connect even when they were from different planets. Project Hail Mary reminded me of the classic 1982 film E.T., about a boy who befriends a kind alien named E.T. and helps to hide him from the government. More broadly, Project Hail Mary mirrors E.T., as both movies are feel-good stories about unlikely bonds between aliens and humans.
While the friendship aspect of the movie was uplifting, the elements of adventure also kept me engaged. Either Ryland or Rocky’s life is in danger multiple times, and they have to save each other. The film’s cinematography and fast-paced editing enhances the suspense this plot structure creates, while the script is interspersed with more character-focused scenes that emphasize the main characters’ developing bond. Another facet of the movie was the mystery surrounding Ryland’s identity and how a science teacher came to be on a spaceship with the fate of the world in his hands. This subplot, narrated with flashbacks to Ryland’s old life, was one of the best aspects of the movie for me. The flashbacks helped me learn more about Ryland and his life before he lost his memory, while the non-linear storytelling helped the film stay focused on the main story.
The visuals of Project Hail Mary drew me in, illustrating the vastness and wonder of space. The film’s lighting alternates between color palettes to reflect the mood of the scene—cool blue for the spacecraft’s interior and warmer colors for when Ryland and Rocky make new breakthroughs. Perhaps the most impressive facet of the cinematography was the fact that not a single green or blue screen was used in the entire film. The Hail Mary ship was built from scratch, and Rocky was a large puppet, manned by five people. This was my favorite effect, because Rocky’s movements looked natural—as if he were an actual living creature. The visuals in the movie were impressive, highlighting the loneliness and beauty of Ryland’s isolation and then his friendship with Rocky.
Project Hail Mary seamlessly combines the qualities of a blockbuster film with the technical and scientific aspects of the story it was based on. I found the film to be exciting and interesting, one that made me think about what it means to be human and to want to help other living creatures. Ryan Gosling captures the essence of a confused yet brave protagonist, pulling the movie together. Project Hail Mary is an enjoyable and thought-provoking movie to watch, appealing to both those who enjoy science fiction and those who want a good movie experience.