Even though we’re only halfway through 2025, it already seems like Ryan Gosling’s upcoming science fiction film Project Hail Mary could be one of the biggest movies of 2026. Based on the trailer for Project Hail Mary, Gosling will play a teacher who gets recruited to be an astronaut and wakes up from a coma with amnesia while on a mission designed to save Earth from catastrophe.
Even before the release of the trailer, anticipation was high for Project Hail Mary since it is based on the critically acclaimed novel by Andy Weir and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. However, a record broken by the new trailer has proved just how excited people are for Gosling’s upcoming sci-fi movie.
Project Hail Mary broke the record for the most viewed trailer for an original film. About a week after the release of the trailer, Lord announced that it had been viewed by 400 million people. Of course, this number will continue to rise as we get closer to the movie’s March 20, 2026 release date. This means that Project Hail Mary may finally be a successful sci-fi movie for Gosling after a couple of significant flops.
Project Hail Mary Is Generating A Lot Of Hype – And That’s Good For Its Box Office
Project Hail Mary Should Be A Box Office Hit
Obviously, it needs to be mentioned that trailer views don’t necessarily equal box office success. However, Project Hail Mary’s trailer breaking this record is an encouraging sign that people may flock to theaters to see the film. Despite including a major spoiler from the Project Hail Mary book, the trailer is very good and has obviously piqued people’s interest.
Therefore, it’s a safe bet that Project Hail Mary will be a box office hit, which is great since two of Gosling’s previous sci-fi films underperformed. Firstly, 2018’s First Man, which featured Gosling portray astronaut Neil Armstrong, only managed to gross $105 million on a budget of $59 million (via Box Office Mojo). Despite starring Gosling and being directed by acclaimed filmmaker Damien Chazelle, First Man couldn’t find an audience.
Additionally, 2017’s Blade Runner 2049 also underperformed at the box office, which is even more surprising since it is the sequel to the iconic 1982 Harrison Ford-led sci-fi movie. Throughout its theatrical run, Blade Runner 2049 only managed to gross $277 million on a budget of $150 million (via Box Office Mojo). However, it seems like Gosling’s sci-fi luck will finally change with Project Hail Mary.
Ryan Gosling Deserves A True Sci-Fi Movie Hit
Gosling Is One Of The Best Actors Of His Generation
Even though First Man and Blade Runner 2049 struggled at the box office, they are both incredible movies. In First Man, Gosling masterfully portrays Neil Armstrong and showcases how isolating the life of an astronaut can be. In Blade Runner 2049, which is arguably one of the best legacy sequels ever, Gosling also delivers an amazing performance.
|
Movie |
Worldwide Box Office |
RT Critics Score |
RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Blade Runner 2049 (2017) |
$277,937,605 |
88% |
88% |
|
First Man (2018) |
$105,713,218 |
87% |
68% |
Since Gosling’s performances in both of the movies are fantastic, it’s a shame that they underperformed. After years of struggling to find success in the genre, he deserves to have a major sci-fi hit. Therefore, I’m so happy that the trailer for Project Hail Mary is being received so well by people all over the world, and I can’t wait to watch the movie in theaters in 2026.
