A ★★★★★ review of Project Hail Mary (2026)

As a fan of the book, this adaptation hits the mark. While the final act feels compressed to fit the runtime, the spirit of the source material remains intact. The visuals and effects are sharp, especially in IMAX, which is the recommended way to view this. The heart of the story is the bond between Ryland and Rocky, and the production team captured that dynamic with precision. Ryan Gosling delivers a resonant performance; his emotional scenes are effective enough to prompt a few tears, and the humour throughout the film is a welcome surprise.