Amazon MGM Studios' 'Project Hail Mary' tops box office

The Ryan Gosling-led sci-fi film marks a big win for the studio.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:39pm

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The Ryan Gosling-led sci-fi film 'Project Hail Mary' debuted at the top of the box office this weekend, earning $80.5 million domestically and $140.9 million globally. The film, an adaptation of Andy Weir's novel, is a big win for Amazon MGM Studios as it looks to produce major blockbusters.

Why it matters

The strong opening for 'Project Hail Mary' is a significant milestone for Amazon MGM Studios, which is aiming to establish itself as a major player in the film industry by producing high-profile, big-budget movies. The studio's ability to deliver a box office hit will be closely watched as it competes with established Hollywood giants.

The details

The sci-fi film stars Ryan Gosling as a science teacher who goes on a space mission to save humanity. It is an adaptation of Andy Weir's novel, who also wrote 'The Martian,' another successful book-to-screen adaptation. 'Project Hail Mary' had the biggest domestic debut of the year so far, outpacing the second-place finisher, Disney and Pixar's 'Hoppers,' which earned $18 million.

  • The film debuted in theaters on March 22, 2026.

The players

Project Hail Mary

A sci-fi film produced by Amazon MGM Studios, based on the novel by Andy Weir.

Ryan Gosling

The lead actor in 'Project Hail Mary,' playing a science teacher who goes on a space mission.

Andy Weir

The author of the novel 'Project Hail Mary' is based on, who also wrote 'The Martian.'

Kevin Wilson

The head of domestic theatrical distribution for Amazon MGM Studios.

Hoppers

An original animated film from Disney and Pixar that came in second at the box office.

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What they’re saying

“We believe deeply in the Hail Mary, and it's clear audiences do as well. What we're seeing in theaters —the energy, the exit scores, the word of mouth — is everything we believed this film would deliver.”

— Kevin Wilson, Head of domestic theatrical distribution, Amazon MGM Studios

What’s next

Amazon MGM Studios will be closely watched to see if 'Project Hail Mary' can maintain its box office momentum in the coming weeks, and whether the studio can replicate this success with future big-budget releases.

The takeaway

The strong debut of 'Project Hail Mary' demonstrates Amazon MGM Studios' ability to produce major blockbuster films, which will be crucial as the studio looks to establish itself as a formidable player in the competitive Hollywood landscape.