Prepare for liftoff. March marks the arrival of Project Hail Mary, one of the first event movies of 2026. Ryan Gosling headlines the space odyssey as Dr. Ryland Grace, a science teacher sent into space to save the world. Along the way, Grace meets Rocky, an alien who becomes his friend and a partner in the mission.
Based on books by the same author, Project Hail Mary has drawn comparisons to The Martian, another space adventure movie featuring a lone astronaut attempting to survive in a foreign environment. Despite their similarities, audiences do not have to watch The Martian before seeing Project Hail Mary. That being said, The Martian is an excellent sci-fi movie that’s worth your time and consideration.
The Martian explores the best parts of humanity
Mark Watney: Space Pirate
Based on the 2011 novel of the same name, The Martian stars Damon as Mark Watney, an astronaut mistakenly left for dead on Mars after being separated from his crew during a violent storm. Thrust into survival mode, Watney must figure out how to stay alive long enough to contact NASA and get home. As Watney mentions during one of his logs, “I’m going to have to science the s— out of this.”
While I agree with Judd Apatow that The Martian is not a comedy, it does have a wicked sense of humor. It’s certainly one of Ridley Scott’s funniest films. After Watney barely survives his injuries, his first word is a curse. What better way to describe being the only man stranded on Mars than a four-letter cuss? From growing potatoes with frozen waste and posing like the Fonz to destroying disco music and explaining international law, Watney uses his daily logs to vent his frustrations, express his sarcasm, and educate the audience. The result is an entertaining character study about how humans remain optimistic against impossible circumstances.
While Watney shows off his ingenuity on Mars, NASA and the world’s greatest scientists figure out how to rescue their missing astronaut. Is NASA willing to risk time, money, resources, and even more lives to rescue Watney? It’s a fascinating debate about morality and the price of someone’s life. That sounds like it would weigh the movie down emotionally. However, The Martian never takes itself too seriously. Even when the crew of the Hermes conducts their rescue mission, Watney makes a joke about becoming Iron Man to lighten the mood.
It’s difficult to imagine that the United States and China would put aside their differences to save an astronaut. Frankly, it might be the most unrealistic thing about this movie. Still, I can believe millions of people around the world would watch for updates about the rescue mission. In a world desperate for heroes, The Martian’s optimistic nature is refreshing.
The Martian
Release Date
October 2, 2015
Runtime
2h 24m
Director
Ridley Scott
There is some connective tissue, but they are separate stories
Same writer, new adventures
Credit:Â Jonathan Olley/Amazon Content Services
The Martian and Project Hail Mary hail from the same novelist, Andy Weir. Both stories feature protagonists who rely on their wit and intelligence to power through difficult situations. Watney and Grace are alone. Well, let me rephrase. Watney and Grace go on their journeys without other humans.
The two movies also share the same screenwriter, Drew Goddard. The Academy Award nominee successfully injects Weir’s humorous tone into the script. As someone who struggled with science in school, I feel that these scripts do a solid job of explaining complex situations in simple terms. It’s not Margot Robbie in a bathtub discussing mortgage-backed security, but Damon explaining how to make water on Mars is easy enough for this B-student to process.
Having seen both movies, the tones are completely different. The Martian is a survival story built around a rescue mission to another planet. This is a movie that embraces its sci-fi roots and relies on chemistry and physics to solve problems. While the action mostly takes place on Mars, it’s an adventure that takes place in the same solar system as Earth.
Compared to The Martian, Project Hail Mary is a much more emotional story, as it focuses on the unexpected friendship between Grace and Rocky. When Grace and Rocky begin working together, it plays like a buddy comedy, which makes sense, considering the comedic background of directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. While the goal of The Martian is to save one man, Project Hail Mary depicts how one man (and an alien) must determine why the sun is dying to save the people of Earth.
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Project Hail Mary is projected to be one of 2026’s first great movies
Could awards be in the future?
Amazon MGM Studios has high hopes for Project Hail Mary. According to Variety, Project Hail Mary is projected to earn $63 million to $65 million domestically this weekend. Anything over $60 million would be Amazon MGM’s biggest opening weekend, beating Creed III’s $58 million. With an estimated budget of $200 million, Amazon MGM has higher hopes for Project Hail Mary as a global hit that grosses hundreds of millions.
Overwhelmingly positive reviews and a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes should help Project Hail Mary’s box office chances. Who knows? If Project Hail Mary becomes a huge hit, it could kick off an awards narrative. The Academy rewarded The Martian with seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. The Oscars have recently saved a spot in the Best Picture lineup for a blockbuster. This year, it was F1. Could that spot go to Project Hail Mary next year?
Again, you do not need to watch The Martian before Project Hail Mary to understand the plot. It’s not the MCU or DCU, where knowledge of prior movies becomes a requirement. Simply head to the theater, grab your popcorn, and prepare to develop sympathy for a rock.
Project Hail Mary opens in theaters on March 20, 2026.
Project Hail Mary
Release Date
March 20, 2026
Runtime
156 Minutes
Director
Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
New movies to watch this weekend
Project Hail Mary is not the only noteworthy movie out this weekend. There are several new movies on streaming this weekend, including Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man on Netflix and Wicked: For Good on Peacock. If you’re looking to watch One Battle After Another, head to HBO Max to stream the recent Best Picture winner.
