'Project Hail Mary' first reactions praise Ryan Gosling in Phil Lord and Christopher Miller film

First reactions to Project Hail Mary have emerged ahead of its March 20 release, with critics highlighting Ryan Gosling’s central performance in Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s latest sci-fi adaptation.

The film, based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel, was screened for members of the press this week. Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a school teacher who wakes up alone on a spaceship light-years from Earth with no memory of how he arrived there. As his recollection returns, he uncovers a mission to prevent a mysterious force from extinguishing the sun.

Film critic Eric Marchen wrote on X that the film is “the first great blockbuster of 2026,” adding: “Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s must-see space odyssey blasts off as the first great blockbuster of 2026. Out-of-this-world cinematography from Greig Fraser reaches for the stars while anchored by a stellar Ryan Gosling performance. This movie ROCKS!”

Adriano Caporusso described it as “‘Short Circuit’ bromance to an hysterical extreme” combined with a “pulse-pounding space epic”. Barry Hertz noted concerns about pacing, writing that a “not quite faster-than-light script with too many endings” could not overshadow Gosling’s “galaxy-sized charms”.

Scott Menzel called the film “an epic cinematic achievement” and suggested it could be “a major awards player across the board”. Jeff Conway added that Gosling is the “shining star of this compassionate story about connection and defying the odds”, while Sandra Hüller was described as “the tender heart of this beautiful film”.

At Comic Con 2025, Gosling said he connected to the character’s vulnerability. “I connected to his reluctance,” he said. “He’s an ordinary person in an extraordinary situation.”

Project Hail Mary also stars Milana Vayntrub, Ken Leung, Liz Kingsman and James Ortiz.