Project Hail Mary, the blockbuster sci-fi starring Ryan Gosling as an amnesiac science teacher who finds himself aboard an interstellar spacecraft, is officially heading to digital release after make waves in cinemas.
Here’s what to know.
Project Hail Mary heads to streaming – quick links
The success of Project Hail Mary
While Project Hail Mary had some anticipation behind it, particularly given the excellence of its Andy Weir-penned source material, it’s fair to say the box office success of the film came as a significant surprise. On a reported budget of around AU$360 million, it’s believed to have made around AU$990 million.
It was also a critical and audience darling, with positive word-of-mouth driving much of this interest. Gosling, hot off his roles in Barbie and The Fall Guy no doubt played a role in this intrigue, but the core story of Project Hail Mary and how it was adapted for screen also impressed global audiences.
In the four-and-a-half star ScreenHub review, we called it a very charming sci-fi film with a warm, beating heart at its centre.
‘As was also the case in 2015 when Weir’s The Martian reached picture theatres, cinema gains a stellar page-to-screen gem, another great in the lonely spaceman canon, and an ode to competence, camaraderie, intelligence and empathy that’s as warmhearted and earnest as it is thrilling and moving,’ ScreenHub reviewer Sarah Ward wrote.
‘Project Hail Mary surprises in its ability to use space blockbuster essentials – expansive IMAX cinematography by Australian Oscar-winner Greig Fraser (for Dune: Part One) among them – as the foundation for a beguiling and breezy Spielbergian delight that’s also a clever and captivating science procedural, a treasure of a buddy comedy, and a thoughtful musing on humanity’s position in the universe.
‘While competence porn has already twirled strong tentacles throughout space and alien films, such as 90s movies Apollo 13 and Contact, as well as 2016’s Arrival, problem-solving and collaboration is rarely as stirring and inspiring as it is here … With Gosling, the film boasts a star that matches the story’s substance. With its wide-open heart, Project Hail Mary is as much a movie meeting the current moment.’
Where to watch Project Hail Mary streaming online
Project Hail Mary will officially stream on Prime Video from 3 July, worldwide.
Given time zones and precedent, we expect it will be available in Australia by mid-afternoon or early evening on that day, with anyone keen to watch or revisit the adventure able to tune in from then.
It certainly makes for a good after-work watch for those looking to wind down with something cosy and completely transportive.
For those who prefer a physical media releases, Project Hail Mary is also on the way there. According to listings on JB Hi-Fi, one of the more reliable stores for preorder news, the film will land on DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K discs on 19 August. There will also be a special edition steelbook for collectors (at a premium price, unfortunately) and a collectible vinyl of the score.
No matter which way you choose to tune in, you’re in for a lush time.
Project Hail Mary was on everyone’s lips a few months ago for entirely earned reasons. Beyond it being a very welcome original sci-fi without the tacked-on clout of any established franchise, it’s also just a very good, very enjoyable film.
