Neil DeGrasse Tyson Gives Thumbs Up to 'Project Hail Mary' Science

Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller asked the renowned astrophysicist for his assessment of the sci-fi film's scientific accuracy.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:03pm

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Project Hail Mary, the 2026 sci-fi film based on Andy Weir's novel, has received the seal of approval from renowned astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller revealed that they asked Tyson for his thoughts on the movie's scientific accuracy after he attended a premiere. Tyson, known for his brutally honest assessments of scientific inaccuracies in films, gave the movie a positive review, a relief for the filmmakers who wanted to ensure they got the science right.

Why it matters

Tyson's endorsement of the film's scientific accuracy is significant, as he has been highly critical of other major sci-fi movies in the past, such as Gravity, Interstellar, and even Titanic. His approval suggests that Lord and Miller, along with the film's scientific consultant Brian Cox, were able to create a scientifically plausible narrative that should satisfy discerning science fans.

The details

Lord and Miller recently spoke with Sirius XM's Julia Cunningham about asking Tyson for his assessment of Project Hail Mary. Tyson apparently attended a premiere of the film and provided positive feedback to the directors, a stark contrast to his past critiques of other sci-fi movies. The filmmakers also worked with astrophysicist Brian Cox to ensure the science in the film was as accurate as possible, though some liberties may have been taken for the sake of the narrative.

  • Project Hail Mary premiered in theaters on March 21, 2026.

The players

Neil DeGrasse Tyson

A renowned astrophysicist who is known for his brutally honest assessments of the scientific accuracy in films.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller

The directors of Project Hail Mary, who sought Tyson's feedback on the film's scientific accuracy.

Brian Cox

An astrophysicist who served as a scientific consultant on Project Hail Mary to help ensure the science in the film was as accurate as possible.

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What they’re saying

“I'm reminded of the time Neil DeGrasse Tyson roasted Armageddon for its outlandish way of handling the asteroid hitting Earth. With that brutally honest assessment in mind, it's a huge relief that he's giving Project Hail Mary a thumbs up.”

— Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Directors

What’s next

Project Hail Mary is currently playing in theaters, and its box office performance will be closely watched to see if Tyson's endorsement helps drive more science-minded viewers to the film.

The takeaway

Neil DeGrasse Tyson's positive assessment of the scientific accuracy in Project Hail Mary is a significant achievement for the filmmakers, who clearly put in the effort to ensure the science in the film was as plausible as possible. This should provide reassurance to science-focused moviegoers that the film is worth checking out.