Project Hail Mary

By: L. Viegas

Project Hail Mary is Ryan Gosling’s newest movie, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and based on the book written by Andy Weir of the same name, and (in my opinion) is one of the best movies of 2026. From the movie’s use of lightwork and colour to its stunning and hopeful plot to its lighthearted humor and finally to this movie’s inspiring work of puppeteering and practical effects, this movie has it all. 
A preview of the plot: Ryland Grace (played by Ryan Gosling) is a biology teacher who is now stranded in space and doesn’t know why, as he has amnesia. And he must save Earth. The world-ending crisis is that the sun is dimming. And no one knows why. And Ryland must find out how to stop this crisis. Luckily, Ryland doesn’t have to do this alone, as along the way he meets an unlikely ally whose similar goals bring them together. 
The movie displays brilliant lightwork and wonderfully written, nuanced characters, who really make this movie pop. Project Hail Mary’s themes of friendship, determination, choices, and most importantly, sacrifice are all beautifully written and shown throughout the movie and novel. 
One character I really like, who is also delightfully written, is Eva Stratt (played by Sandra Hüller). She is a German woman who oversees Project Hail Mary. Stratt is a wonderful character, as she is playing the ultimate trolley problem. Her controversial decisions spark an amazing debate; she is problematic and realistic and exactly what this movie needs. She really helps the narrative flourish. 
A last compliment I would like to pay to this book/movie is how scientifically accurate it is. To my knowledge, all science displayed in the movie/book could (hypothetically) be applied to real life. From the ship’s design to the calculations that Ryland does in the movie/book, all of them apply to real life. 
Overall, I really like this movie and book; it is a true 10/10 in my opinion, and I truly recommend it to everyone. The movie’s inspiring message of friendship, humanity, and kindness is for everyone and anyone. If this review has made you want to watch the movie, you can watch it on Amazon Prime, or if it has made you want to buy the book, you can also buy it off Amazon. Thank you for reading :)