The first batch of Project Hail Mary reviews has landed on Rotten Tomatoes, and the early reaction looks strong for Ryan Gosling’s new sci-fi movie.
A score is not yet available on Rotten Tomatoes, as only around 30 reviews have been posted so far. The audience score also isn’t live yet and is expected to become available this weekend when the film opens on March 20.
Project Hail Mary reviews are mostly positive
The early reviews lean heavily positive, with critics praising the movie’s mix of spectacle, emotion, humor, and heart. A lot of the responses also single out Gosling’s performance, with some calling it his best work yet.
Deadline said Project Hail Mary is “mission accomplished” and described it as an entertaining and engaging sci-fi film made for IMAX.
Screen Rant gave the movie a 9 out of 10 and said Gosling delivers his best performance yet.
The Verge called the movie silly, heartfelt, tense, and hopeful, while saying the unusual mix works surprisingly well.
The Hollywood Reporter said the film can lean sentimental at times, but added that Gosling helps balance it with a natural charm.
USA Today compared it to the kind of old-school blockbuster that Steven Spielberg and George Lucas would have made, full of big ideas and broad crowd appeal.
Other reviewers have compared the movie to The Martian, Interstellar, Arrival, E.T., and even WALL-E, which gives a pretty good idea of the tone Amazon MGM seems to be going for.
Ryan Gosling and Rocky appear to be the big draw
A big part of the praise centers on the friendship at the core of the film, with multiple critics highlighting the chemistry between Gosling’s character and Rocky.
Several reviews describe Project Hail Mary as both a large-scale mission to save humanity and a more personal story about companionship. That angle looks to be what is connecting most with critics.
Awards Radar called it a stunning achievement with excitement, wonder, and an all-timer of a friendship at its core.
Collider said it is not only a strong return for Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, but also the first great movie of 2026.
Flick Feast went even further and called it 2026’s first great blockbuster.
Not every review is sold
The response is not unanimous.
Variety offered one of the more negative takes and said it is not a very good movie despite likely working for a lot of viewers.
Deep Focus Review also went negative and criticized how the book was adapted for the screen.
A few of the positive reviews also pointed to issues with tonal inconsistency, familiarity, and an ending that may go on too long. Still, even several of the more mixed-positive reviews say the movie remains enjoyable and crowd-pleasing.
Early buzz looks strong for Project Hail Mary
Even without an official Rotten Tomatoes score yet, the first wave of reviews suggests Project Hail Mary is shaping up to be one of the bigger sci-fi hits of the year.
The overall reaction so far points to a movie that blends humor, emotion, big-screen spectacle, and a strong central friendship, with Gosling doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
Now the big question is whether audiences feel the same way once the verified audience score hits Rotten Tomatoes this weekend.
