Project Hail Mary Surpasses The Martian at Global Box Office

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Ridley Scott’s acclaimed sci-fi film, The Martian, has now been out-earned by the 2026 release, Project Hail Mary. The Martian, which came out in 2015, grossed $630 million globally. Project Hail Mary, since its release in March, has taken in $641 million worldwide.

. Now, Project Hail Mary has definitively surpassed its predecessor.

Project Hail Mary Officially Surpasses The Martian at the Box Office

It’s easy to compare Project Hail Mary and The Martian because they share a similar origin. Both are based on novels by Andy Weir, and both were written for the screen by Drew Goddard. The main difference is who directed them: Ridley Scott directed The Martian, while Phil Lord and Chris Miller directed Project Hail Mary.

I’m still buzzing about Project Hail Mary! It was a massive hit in 2026 and is already the third highest-grossing movie of the year worldwide. I’m really hoping it gets some awards attention too – The Martian got 7 Academy Award nominations, and I think Project Hail Mary is just as deserving. We’ll have to wait and see!

Project Hail Mary and The Martian Both Do Science Right

Andy Weir is known for making the science in his stories feel believable, and that same attention to detail is evident in the screenplays for The Martian and Project Hail Mary. The Martian tells the story of an astronaut struggling to survive on Mars while his team tries to bring him home. Astrophysicist Paul M. Sutter even gave the movie his highest rating in a review video.

Sutton gave the clips a perfect score, saying, “I absolutely love this movie! It’s a fantastic story about science and how it can solve problems.”

As a huge fan of science fiction, I have to say Project Hail Mary really stretches what feels possible, especially when it comes to things like alien life. It definitely leans into theoretical science, which is exciting, but it does mean things get pretty far-out there.

Dr. Becky points out that while some aspects of the story, like time dilation and artificial gravity, are based on established physics, others – such as the concept of astrophage – venture into pure science fiction, stretching beyond our current understanding of cells and energy. However, she emphasizes that this is a hallmark of good science fiction: taking real science as a starting point and then exploring possibilities beyond what we currently know.

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Project Hail Mary is based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel and adapted into a screenplay by Goddard. The movie features Ryan Gosling in the lead role, alongside Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, and Lionel Boyce. Critics have praised the film.

Project Hail Mary is now playing in theaters — .

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2026-05-09 00:49