Ryan Gosling's New Sci-Fi Epic Movie From Acclaimed Directors "Is A Must-See Space Odyssey" In First Reactions

Ryan Gosling’s new space epic is out of this world as first reactions kick in.

The upcoming adaptation, Project Hail Mary, stars Gosling as an amnesiac scientist who undergoes a one-way trip to save Earth from a mystery microorganism that’s killing the sun. Along the way, he ignites an unconventional friendship with an alien Rocky, as they attempt to find solutions to save his planet.

With just under a month before its release, first reactions are being shared on social media after critics and film pundits recently had a chance to see a screening. Responses are overwhelmingly positive, with some calling Project Hail Mary a space adventure masterpiece and even possibly one of the best movies of 2026, with strong award potential.

ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley says that the Gosling movie is “perfect. Imagination unleashed even better than I pictured it on the page.” He’s also calling for Oscar consideration for the leading actor himself, saying, “How Gosling captivates throughout a largely one-man show is beyond me – your earliest Best Actor contender. & my sweet prince Rocky… tears flowed all third act. What a beautiful display of companionship.”

Brandon Davis has called Project Hail Mary a “masterpiece” and “the best movie I’ve seen this year.” He elaborates that “The visuals delivered here are tremendously innovative, bending IMAX to its maximum capabilities.”

Calling it “an epic cinematic achievement,” journalist Scott Menzel lauded directors Phil Lord and Christopher for managing to “raise the bar once again, delivering what is not only their most ambitious film to date, but arguably their most accomplished.” He continues that “Gosling anchors the film with humanity and nuance, making the spectacle feel personal and the stakes so profoundly real,” and found Rocky to be a standout, as “The bond between him and Grace is the heart and soul of this story.”

Gizmodo reporter Germain Lussier assured that “The 160 minutes go by in an instant as Lord and Miller keep Weir’s narrative moving like a rocket ship. Gosling is better than ever and the Rocky effect and mind blowing.” Film critic Eric Marchen gave a full thumbs up, declaring that Project Hail Mary is a “must-see space odyssey blasts off as the first great blockbuster of 2026. Out-of-this-world cinematography from Greig Fraser reaches for the stars while anchored by a stellar Ryan Gosling performance.”

Variety’s Clayton Davis compared the new sci-fi movie to Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, calling it “a family-friendly, high-concept crowd-pleaser with real blockbuster upside. Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller are out of this world, owning every frame. Adored!” Jazz Tangcay, Variety’s Senior Artisans Editor, described Project Hail Mary as “masterful and so beautifully done. A truly heartwarming story of humanity and friendship. A superb performance from Ryan Gosling – a career best.”

Mama Geeky’s Tessa Smith gushed over the emotional roller coaster of Project Hail Mary, saying: “It is way funnier than I expected it to be, it never feels its runtime, and it is truly heartwarming. I laughed, I cried.”

Entertainment Reporter Scott Mantz “Absolutely loved “PROJECT HAIL MARY,” an awe-inspiring & sublimely beautiful masterpiece — everything we go to the movies for! Loaded with heart, humor, excitement & a deeply moving story! Brilliantly directed by PHIL LORD & CHRIS MILLER, magnificent performance by RYAN GOSLING!”

While most of the reactions were very positive, The Globe and Mail writer Barry Hertz thought that the movie was “Not quite faster-than-light script with too many endings and one crucial plot point that evaporates, plus a seeming corporate obligation to Amazon’s ROCKY catalogue, cannot suppress the galaxy-sized charms of Ryan Gosling.”

The Direct’s Russ Milheim agrees that Project Hail Mary “is an absolutely fantastic film that will no doubt live up to everyone’s expectations,” but took issue with the film’s runtime as “admittedly a tad long.”

The upcoming movie is an adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel, and it’s the second to get the film treatment after Ridley Scott’s acclaimed hit, The Martian. Project Hail Mary was featured on the New York Times‘ bestseller list for 28 weeks in light of the movie’s highly anticipated release.

While these are first reactions, official reviews won’t be published until closer to its March release. Nevertheless, while reactions tend to lean positive compared to the review, it’s expected that reception will be glowing in the same way that The Martian became a critical darling and an award juggernaut.

Despite excitement for Project Hail Mary, some concerns were raised about whether the adaptation could cover most of the beats from the dense novel, which has 496 pages. Some critics and journalists touched on the pacing, and most seem to have little to no issue with it. The film currently has a 156-minute runtime, which is 48 minutes longer than The Martian.

Nevertheless, the movie’s important review comes from the author himself. While speaking with ScreenRant at SDCC in 2025, Weir gave a glowing review of Project Hail Mary, saying that “It’s really good. These guys, they’re amazing directors, everybody knows that. I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.” While there are still a few weeks until its release, these reactions indicate that Weir’s track record of novel-to-movie adaptation may be two for two.

In addition to being the lead, Gosling is also a producer alongside Amy Pascal, Lord, Miller, Aditya Sood, Rachel O’Connor, and Weir. Project Hail Mary also features Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub. Drew Goddard wrote the screenplay.

Project Hail Mary will release in theaters on March 20, 2026.