“Fist my bump,” chirps Rocky, holding out a three-clawed appendage covered in silvery mesh. Sighing, his co-star obliges and accepts the phrase for what it is, “fisting his bump.” The camera pans to a window, showing a breathtaking black sky studded with dots of light, an outer space scene for the ages. The vast bleakness of outer space coupled with the warmth and humor of the main characters’ interactions perfectly sums up why “Project Hail Mary” is such an amazing film to watch. 

“Project Hail Mary”, released on March 20, 2026, became a hit almost instantly, boasting breathtaking sets, lovable characters and rave reviews from critics. With strong and relatable performances, scientific banter traded for heartfelt moments and laughs all around, the film is sure to become a modern sci-fi classic. The sun dying is the main, groundbreaking plot, but where the movie really shines is in the relatability and relationships between the main character and his lovable alien co-star, Rocky.

Ryan Gosling, as Dr. Ryland Grace, has by far the most screen time as the sole human main character. With a two-and-a-half-hour runtime, the intense focus on a single protagonist has the potential to get monotonous or repetitive; instead, Gosling shines in his role as the likable, goofy and relatable middle school teacher-turned-astronaut, struggling to come to grips with his situation in the vacuum of space. It’s even harder to pull off when you consider that the film’s only other “main character” is a humorous, lovable crab-like alien named Rocky, who is voiced by puppeteer James Ortiz. The skill necessary to interact in a both comedic and heartfelt way with an inanimate puppet is challenging to say the least, yet it is absolutely seamless, one of Gosling’s best performances to date.

“Project Hail Mary” debuted as a book written by Andy Weir in 2021, and the novel itself includes a lot more ‘science babble,’ as some fans have put it. However, the movie adaptation drops the vast majority of this in favor of spotlighting the emotional connection between Grace and Rocky. This was a bold choice, but ultimately works well, as it appeals to a wider audience who might not love such a science-heavy film and demonstrates that science fiction isn’t just for die-hard fans, it’s a genre for everyone. As Rocky and Grace’s relationship develops, their interactions become more heartfelt and Grace comes to care for his new companion, tugging on the audience’s heartstrings constantly.

Finally, the ground crew of international representatives, members of various space travel organizations and foreign dignitaries lend a sense of community to “Project Hail Mary,” which might otherwise have lonely undertones. It would be all too easy to let Gosling take the lead as Grace, which has the potential to become boring, but a feeling of collectiveness is conveyed through the “ground crew” coming together. They are the realistic side of the problem Grace is trying to solve–the sun dying.

While the movie’s two-and-a-half-hour run time is long, it does not drag on endlessly, the tension is palatable in the air and action is around every corner. At the same time, 150 minutes is admittedly a little too long to spend looking at a screen for some viewers.

From international engineers to alien fistbumps, “Project Hail Mary” stuns audiences with scientific accuracy, heart, and solemn, tearjerking moments. Overcoming the challenges posed by adapting a book is not always easy, but it pulls it off with ease. It spins a story of an ordinary teacher in an extraordinary situation—and because of top-notch acting by Ryan Gosling, Grace is still a relatable character. It’s a film that truly makes you want the characters to succeed and in the words of one special alien, “AMAZE AMAZE AMAZE!”