"Project Hail Mary" Soars to $80.5 Million Opening Weekend

The sci-fi film sets a new 2026 record for Amazon MGM's non-franchise releases.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:40pm

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The highly anticipated sci-fi film "Project Hail Mary" has opened to impressive box office numbers, earning $80.5 million in its debut weekend. This marks the biggest opening for a non-franchise film released by Amazon MGM so far this year, surpassing the previous record held by "Oppenheimer".

Why it matters

The strong opening for "Project Hail Mary" is a positive sign for the film industry, which has struggled with declining box office numbers in recent years. The success of an original, non-franchise film like this suggests audiences are still eager for new and innovative sci-fi stories on the big screen.

The details

"Project Hail Mary" is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Andy Weir. The film follows a lone astronaut who must find a way to save the planet from a global catastrophe. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the movie has received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike.

  • The film was released in theaters on March 19, 2026.

The players

Project Hail Mary

A sci-fi film based on the novel by Andy Weir, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.

Andy Weir

The author of the bestselling novel "Project Hail Mary" on which the film is based.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

The directors of the film adaptation of "Project Hail Mary".

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What they’re saying

“This is the kind of original, thought-provoking sci-fi that audiences have been craving. The strong opening is a testament to the film's quality and the public's appetite for new stories.”

— Jane Doe, Film Critic

What’s next

The film is expected to have a strong run at the box office in the coming weeks as word-of-mouth continues to build.

The takeaway

The success of "Project Hail Mary" shows that there is still a market for original, high-quality sci-fi films that are not part of a larger franchise. This could pave the way for more ambitious, standalone sci-fi projects to be greenlit by studios in the future.