Ryan Gosling’s latest film, “Project Hail Mary,” has launched to a stellar box office debut, collecting $80.5 million domestically and signaling a much-needed win for Amazon MGM Studios. The science fiction adventure, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, not only exceeded pre-weekend projections but as well shattered studio records and claimed the title of the year’s biggest opening weekend thus far. The film’s success is particularly significant for Amazon MGM as it navigates its first full year with a theatrical slate following its acquisition of MGM in 2022.
The impressive opening weekend performance of “Project Hail Mary” marks the biggest debut for Amazon MGM, surpassing the $58 million earned by “Creed III” in 2023. It also outpaced February’s “Scream 7,” which opened with $63 million. Globally, the film grossed $140.9 million, adding $60.4 million from 82 international markets. The positive reception, coupled with strong word-of-mouth, propelled ticket sales beyond initial estimates.
A Critical and Commercial Success
Adapted from Andy Weir’s best-selling novel – the same author behind “The Martian” – “Project Hail Mary” follows a scientist on a desperate intergalactic mission to save Earth from extinction. The film has garnered critical acclaim, currently holding a 95% average rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earning an “A” grade from CinemaScore exit polls. The $200 million production, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (“21 Jump Street,” “The Lego Movie”), clearly resonated with audiences seeking a blend of science fiction and compelling storytelling.
“We believe deeply in the Hail Mary, and it’s clear audiences do as well,” said Kevin Wilson, Amazon MGM’s distribution chief. “What we’re seeing in theaters — the energy, the exit scores, the word of mouth — is everything we believed this film would deliver.”
Amazon MGM’s Turnaround at the Box Office
The success of “Project Hail Mary” is particularly crucial for Amazon MGM, which has faced challenges in establishing a strong foothold in the theatrical market. Prior releases, including the documentary “Melania” ($16 million against a $40 million budget) and the caper film “Crime 101” ($65 million against a $90 million budget), underperformed financially. David A. Gross of FranchiseRe noted, “This is Amazon MGM’s first big hit,” adding that the film’s appeal lies in its “balance of science fiction and humanity,” echoing the success of “The Martian.”
The film’s audience demographics revealed that 57% were male and 60% were white. A significant 55% of ticket sales came from premium large format (PLF) screens, including IMAX and Dolby Cinema, indicating a strong demand for an immersive cinematic experience. Shawn Robbins, director of movie analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory, emphasized the importance of PLF expansion, stating, “The results again underscore how significant it is for exhibition and studios to continue prioritizing expansion efforts for those auditoriums.”
Other Weekend Releases
While “Project Hail Mary” dominated the box office, other films also made their mark. Disney and Searchlight’s horror sequel, “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come,” opened in fourth place with $9 million from 3,010 North American theaters, slightly below expectations. Disney’s Pixar adventure “Hoppers” added $18 million, bringing its total domestic gross to $120.4 million. The Indian action epic “Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge” earned $9.5 million from just 987 locations, marking the biggest opening weekend ever for a Bollywood film in North America, surpassing the $6.9 million debut of 2023’s “Pathaan.” Universal’s romantic drama “Reminders of Him” rounded out the top five with $8 million in its second weekend.
However, not all films fared well. “The Bride!” experienced a significant drop in viewership, earning only $275,000 in its third weekend – an 86% decline – and is considered a financial disappointment for Warner Bros.
Overall ticket sales are currently 21% above the same period in 2025, according to Comscore, though revenues remain approximately 20% behind pre-pandemic levels. “Project Hail Mary” is expected to maintain its box office lead until the release of Universal and Illumination’s “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” on April 1.
The success of “Project Hail Mary” provides a significant boost to Amazon MGM’s theatrical ambitions. The studio’s next major release, a toy adaptation of “Masters of the Universe” in June, will aim to capitalize on this momentum. The film’s performance demonstrates the continued appeal of large-scale, well-received science fiction films in the theatrical landscape.
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