From the very opening shots of Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s new film, Project Hail Mary, it’s clear something special is unfolding. Right out of the gate, the film feels immersive, tactile, and experiential in a way that few modern blockbusters manage. Though it begins on an intimate scale, it quickly expands into vast, monumental territory, making it even more impressive that it remains immediately endearing and funny at the same time.
That balance defines Project Hail Mary. It plays like a high-wire act that could have collapsed in a million different ways from the start, yet it remains confident and cohesive throughout. The result is not only deeply engaging and wildly entertaining, but it also hits like a freight train of pure joy and optimism. It’s a rare kind of film, one that feels like every key creative contributor poured a genuine piece of themselves into it, creating a layered and truly unique cinematic experience.
TOP FIVE THINGS ABOUT “PROJECT HAIL MARY”
5. The Structure
Right off the bat, one of the most ingenious aspects of Project Hail Mary is its time-jumping narrative structure. While the framework is partially drawn from Project Hail Mary, screenwriter Drew Goddard uses it in a far more expressive and immersive way. The film opens with Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, waking from hypersleep in space with no memory of who he is or how he got there. That choice immediately locks the audience into his perspective, dropping viewers into uncertainty right alongside him.
From there, the story moves forward with strong momentum while weaving in carefully placed flashbacks that provide crucial context about the Hail Mary mission and Grace’s role in it. This structure carries through to the climax and works exceptionally well. Goddard walks a precise line, revealing just enough to keep the audience fully invested without giving away too much too soon. At the same time, he preserves the film’s biggest emotional moments for maximum impact. It’s a sharp storytelling approach that enhances everything else the film has going for it.
4. Daniel Pemberton’s Score
Daniel Pemberton is one of the most exciting composers working today, and his eclectic, off-the-wall, synth-driven energy has proven to be a fantastic, synergistic complement to the work of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. In the past, Pemberton scored their Spider-Verse animated films, and here that creative partnership launches into the stratosphere, quite literally, as he delivers an instantly iconic and deeply resonant musical backbone.
It’s the kind of score that perfectly captures the vibe, emotion, and cinematic texture of the film. Listening to it immediately conjures vivid images from the movie, making it feel inseparable from the experience itself. This is top-tier work.
3. ROCKY!
Do you remember the Onward? It was largely buried by COVID-era delays, but the animated fantasy drew early curiosity when its marketing revealed a pair of legs as a central character. How do you make a pair of legs emote? How do you get an audience to connect with something so incomplete? Those were intriguing questions going in, and ones that seemed tailor-made for Pixar to answer creatively. Ultimately, that didn’t happen. The film never fully solved that challenge, making it difficult to form any real connection with the character.
That contrast makes what Project Hail Mary accomplishes with Rocky even more impressive. A faceless rock-like being could have easily run into the same limitations, but instead, he becomes one of the film’s greatest strengths. Through a seamless blend of visual effects, practical puppetry, and performance, Rocky emerges as a fully realized character. He feels alive, expressive, and emotionally resonant, proving that even the most unconventional designs can connect when executed with precision and care.
2. Ryan Gosling: Charisma Incarnate
There are countless strengths in Project Hail Mary, but none land quite as effectively without Ryan Gosling at the center. Gosling has long been one of the most compelling performers working today, bringing a rare mix of range, precision, and instinct to every role. Over the past decade, he has evolved into a remarkably charismatic and comedic leading man, and it’s especially rewarding to see that side of him fully unleashed here. For those who caught his scene-stealing turn in The Nice Guys, this performance feels like a long-overdue victory lap on a much larger stage.
From the film’s opening moments, Gosling commands attention, balancing sharp comedic timing with genuine emotional depth. His humor enhances the heavier moments, while the emotional beats give added weight to the laughs. That interplay becomes one of the film’s driving forces, with Gosling acting as the connective tissue that keeps everything grounded. In the end, he doesn’t just carry the film, he elevates it, delivering one of the strongest performances of his career.
1. Lord and Miller’s Cinematic Vision
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller have built a reputation for turning ideas that look questionable on paper into cinematic standouts in execution. In that sense, Project Hail Mary feels like their magnum opus, a sharp distillation of their storytelling strengths both narratively and visually. Partnering with cinematographer Greig Fraser proves to be a brilliant move, as the duo and the man behind the stunning visuals of The Batman and Dune: Part Two craft a cinematic experience that is both rich and versatile.
At this point, audiences have seen countless films set in space, and many of them end up feeling oddly weightless, treating the setting like a glorified parking garage in Atlanta, stripped of awe or wonder. That’s where Project Hail Mary stands out. The film evokes the grandeur and scale of classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Gravity, and Interstellar, capturing a sense of weight and visual power that feels tangible. It’s a fully immersive audiovisual experience from start to finish, and it absolutely demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
RGM GRADE
(A)
Project Hail Mary is an outstanding film that brings together a group of top-tier creatives operating at the peak of their abilities, resulting in something vibrant, layered, and genuinely beautiful. It captures the best from everyone involved, transforming what initially felt like a long shot into something that often feels downright miraculous. Truly remarkable work.
