The Stream: Why are so many movies so long?

The Big Screen: Lots of humor and heart throughout.

The Final Bill: A charming sci-fi comedy blends a story about bravery and friendship with a lot of humor and heart.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Writers: Drew Goddard based on a novel by Andy Weir
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Rating: PG-13 for some thematic material and suggestive references.
Runtime: 2 hours 31 minutes
Production Companies: Amazon MGM Studios, General Admission, Lord Miller, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Pascal Pictures, Waypoint Entertainment
Platform: In theaters March 20, 2026
Notable Trailers: Dune: Part Three, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Michael, The Sheep Detectives, Masters of the Universe

What’s up, Streamers! Although new releases in March can be hit and miss, it seems like the pre-summer movie season gets earlier and earlier. This weekend, the highly anticipated, sci-fi thriller, comedy Project Hail Mary opened in theaters and is expected to be an early spring blockbuster. In this adaptation of the popular novel by Andy Weir, Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), wakes up alone on a spaceship, lightyears from Earth, without a memory of how or why he is there. Eventually, Grace remembers that he’s on the Hail Mary headed toward a distant planet in order to discover a way to save the Earth from its dying Sun. Along the way, Dr. Grace encounters an unlikely companion who may be the key to succeeding in this mission. Deep space, interstellar hijinks ensue.

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who directed 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie, bring their comedic sensibility and imagination to this sci-fi epic. In Project Hail Mary, Lord and Miller are able to blend vastly different tones into a cohesive and affecting movie. There is some science mumbo jumbo that is necessary to explain what’s happening to Earth and why Grace’s mission is necessary. Those science-heavy scenes have an ease and lightness to them that lays a plausible foundation without being too boring thanks to Gosling’s charming performance. Moreover, there is serious drama and tension in this dangerous and important mission that is enhanced by the realistic and endearing friendship of Grace and his unlikely space companion. All of these disparate elements come together in an engrossing and, occasionally, tense movie. Space is usually pretty scary considering how dangerous it is, but these movies rarely have the heart and deep affection that comes in this movie. It’s also pretty good at avoiding space cliches. I only wish they didn’t feel the need to make this movie 2 and half hours long. While I enjoyed the ride, it could have been a bit shorter.

Project Hail Mary has really great cinematography and visual effects. It is pretty dazzling to look at. There have been a lot of movies about space, and they can typically blend together. While this movie does have some sameness to it, there are elements of the visuals of this movie that set it apart. I’ll also note that Ryan Gosling, Sandra Huller and James Ortiz make their characters funny and charismatic. It is easy to care what happens to these characters because the actors have made them vivid and alive.

Ultimately, Project Hail Mary is a fun time at the movies. It delivers an engrossing science fiction experience in its visuals without getting too bogged down in the science thanks to the blend of humor and heart throughout. The main cast is uniformly good. You’ll definitely care what happens to these characters and Earth as a result of their dangerous mission. Grab a big box of popcorn and blast off to the theater.