Project Hail Mary Rockets Toward 2026’s Biggest Opening Weekend Yet
Project Hail Mary is rocketing toward 2026’s biggest opening yet, with projections surging as Amazon MGM Studios readies its U.S. theatrical launch next month. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and adapted from Andy Weir’s 2021 novel, the sci-fi event stars Ryan Gosling.
Ryan Gosling is about to blast off again, and the early numbers say audiences are packing their helmets. Let’s talk about Project Hail Mary, what it’s up against, and why the 2026 box office leaderboard might be about to reshuffle. Also: yes, the current year-to-date champ is Wuthering Heights. That’s not a typo.
What you’re getting with Project Hail Mary
Amazon MGM Studios rolls this one into U.S. theaters on March 20, 2026. It’s directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel, and stars Ryan Gosling as Dr. Ryland Grace. Gosling is also a producer. On paper, that’s a very friendly combo of star power, crowd-pleasing filmmakers, and a bestseller sci-fi hook.
The numbers so far
Early tracking pegs Project Hail Mary at around $50 million for its opening weekend in North America. If it sticks the landing, that would be the biggest domestic debut of 2026 to date. For the moment, that title belongs to Wuthering Heights, which opened to $32 million. That said, Scream 7 is expected to land somewhere between $40 million and $50 million, which could grab the crown first depending on where it falls.
- Project Hail Mary (March 20): Tracking around $50M domestic opening; directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller; based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel; Ryan Gosling stars as Dr. Ryland Grace and also produces.
- Wuthering Heights: Current 2026 domestic opening leader at $32M (for now).
- Scream 7: Forecasted between $40M-$50M, likely to overtake Wuthering Heights ahead of Hail Mary.
- Hoppers (March 6): Pixar’s entry is the only earlier release with a real shot at topping Hail Mary’s number if the family crowd shows up.
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April): Expect this one to challenge for the overall 2026 opening crown after Hail Mary lands.
- Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (March 20): Tracking around $11M. That’s technically higher than the first film’s $8M opening weekend, though the original launched on a Wednesday and posted $11M over its first five days.
About that counterprogramming
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come hits the same day as Project Hail Mary and is currently aiming at roughly $11 million to start. That’s an uptick over the last film’s pure weekend number, but the Wednesday debut on the original makes the apples-to-apples comparison a little fuzzy since its five-day was also $11 million.
The caveat you already know
Tracking shifts. Marketing heats up, reviews roll in, word of mouth happens, and the numbers move. For now, Project Hail Mary looks like the one to beat in March… unless Scream 7 or Pixar’s Hoppers steals a march first. Either way, March 20 is going to be busy.