Project Hail Mary Dominates Box Office, Overtakes Major Franchise
Ryan Gosling’s latest sci-fi adventure, Project Hail Mary, is continuing its stellar run at the box office, not only maintaining its strong performance but also achieving a significant milestone. The film has now surpassed a major franchise to claim the title of the highest-grossing Hollywood film of the year in the United States.
In its second weekend, the highly anticipated science fiction flick raked in an impressive $54.5 million. This brought its domestic total to a staggering $164.3 million, propelling it to the pinnacle of the US box office chart for 2026, according to studio estimates released on Sunday.
The blockbuster has officially overtaken James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, which had held the top spot for the initial three months of the year. The most recent instalment in the Avatar franchise, released in December, has so far accumulated $153.7 million domestically in 2026.
Directed by the dynamic duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Project Hail Mary has a remarkable track record in its short two-week theatrical run. The Amazon MGM production, with a reported budget of $200 million, has already achieved a global gross of $300.8 million.
The film’s success saw it comfortably beat out the weekend’s new horror release, They Will Kill You, which managed a modest $5 million domestically for Warner Bros. Following Gosling’s space epic in the rankings, the animated family film Hoppers held firm in second place, earning $12.2 million in its fourth weekend.
On a global scale, Project Hail Mary stands as the second highest-grossing film of the year. It trails only the Chinese racing comedy Pegasus 3, which has banked over $600 million worldwide.
The film’s remarkable staying power is further underscored by its minimal drop in ticket sales. Going into its second weekend, Project Hail Mary experienced a mere 32% decline, demonstrating an even stronger hold than that of the critically acclaimed Oppenheimer in 2023, which saw a $46.7 million take in its second weekend.
Furthermore, its $80.5 million domestic box office launch was enough to dethrone Oppenheimer, securing the record for the best opening weekend for a non-franchise film. The film’s global debut was equally impressive, hitting $140.9 million.
A Much-Needed Box Office Win
The triumph of Project Hail Mary represents a significant and much-needed boost for Amazon MGM, following a series of less successful releases. The film also shattered the studio’s previous opening weekend record, which was held by Creed III, a film that debuted with $58 million in 2023.
In Project Hail Mary, Gosling takes on the role of a middle school science teacher thrust into a critical space mission to save humanity. The film, which also features compelling performances from Sandra Hüller and Lionel Boyce, had been projected to earn $65 million in its opening weekend. However, it significantly surpassed these expectations, a success attributed to overwhelmingly positive reviews and strategic trailers showcased during the Oscars broadcast.
Critical reception for Project Hail Mary has been overwhelmingly positive. Clarisse Loughrey, the film critic for The Independent, awarded the film a strong four stars. Loughrey described the film as “an alchemically perfected blend of past sci-fi greats, with a good dose of Spielberg and Kubrick – familiar without feeling exhausted.”
Looking ahead, Project Hail Mary is set to face stiff competition next weekend with the release of Universal Pictures’ The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. This highly anticipated film is expected to achieve one of the biggest opening weekends of 2026.
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