The sci-fi spectacle Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling, soared to a massive $140.9 million global opening during its debut weekend, securing the title of the biggest box office launch of 2026 so far.
Domestic earnings in North America reached $80.5 million, marking the second-highest opening weekend for an original, non-franchise film in cinematic history, trailing only Oppenheimer ($82.4 million). International markets contributed a further $60.4 million to the film’s impressive total.
With a production budget estimated at $200 million, the feature is based on the best-selling novel by Andy Weir, the visionary mind behind The Martian. The narrative follows a school teacher (Gosling) who is launched into deep space on a desperate mission to avert a planetary apocalypse, aided by an unlikely alien companion named Rocky. The film was helmed by the acclaimed directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (21 Jump Street).