It doesn’t get more hopecore than Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s Project Hail Mary, which has also made bank at the box office since its March 20 release. This is an epic space saga meant to be watched in a packed movie theater, which explains why Amazon MGM Studios extended the film’s theatrical window in mid-April.
As a result, Andy Weir fans were urged to be patient for the film’s streaming debut. Finally, that patience is paying off. As of May 12, you can watch Project Hail Mary from the comfort of your home.
This isn’t the first time one of Weir’s brilliant sci-fi novels has been turned into an unexpected blockbuster. The Martian, which centers on a lone astronaut stranded on Mars, was adapted into a moving odyssey of human survival by Ridley Scott in 2015. While The Martian evokes more complicated sentiments about grit and perseverance, Project Hail Mary celebrates unconditional bonds and the beauty of scientific curiosity.
Project Hail Mary takes place in 2032. Ryland Grace (an endlessly charming Ryan Gosling) wakes up from a coma and learns that he is the sole survivor on a spaceship far, far away from Earth. As his memory comes back to him, Grace recalls the reason he’s there: to save the Earth from a mysterious organism that’s threatening to wipe out the Sun. However, things take a turn for the unexpected when Grace meets another astronaut from a solar system experiencing the same problem, and the unlikely duo work together to achieve their mission with the power of science.
While Project Hail Mary makes some minor changes to Weir’s book, it’s a mostly faithful adaptation (Weir was also involved as a producer). Director duo Lord and Miller also give the movie an upbeat energy that can border on saccharine at times but is mostly just a lot of fun — especially when it comes to the dynamic between Grace and his new alien friend.
If you missed Project Hail Mary in theaters or just want to rewatch it, now’s your chance — at least until Amazon makes it free to stream for all Prime subscribers.
About the Author
