‘Project Hail Mary’s Soundtrack: Every Song & When It Plays

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The new movie, Project Hail Mary, is playing in theaters now. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller are known for creating visually appealing films with fantastic soundtracks. They consistently make music a key part of their storytelling, whether they’re directing, writing, or producing, and Project Hail Mary is no different. The film boasts a remarkable score and carefully chosen songs that enhance the emotional impact and narrative.

Since music plays such a big role in this film, we’ve put together a list of all the songs and when they appear. But first, we want to highlight how incredible the movie’s score is.

Who Composes the Score for ‘Project Hail Mary’?

Daniel Pemberton, the composer for Project Hail Mary, is also known for his work on the Spider-Verse movies and Ari Aster’s Eddington, where he brought a classic Western sound. For Project Hail Mary, Pemberton created a deeply emotional score, capturing feelings of sadness, fear, and wonder. The music, similar in scope to Interstellar, blends Pemberton’s unique style with a large, dramatic sound that emphasizes the importance of the mission. The soundtrack is excellent on its own, with standout tracks like “Centrifuge” and “Amaze Amaze Amaze” perfectly embodying the sense of discovery and awe that defines Project Hail Mary.

Every Song on the ‘Project Hail Mary’ Soundtrack and When They Play

Kris Kristofferson’s “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” plays early in the movie Hail Mary after Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up from a coma with no memory of who he is or why he’s on the ship. Feeling lost and alone, he understandably struggles emotionally, turning to alcohol and even creating a makeshift companion from a mop. The song’s lyrics perfectly reflect Grace’s actions – getting drunk and dancing with his mop – creating a scene that’s both sad and funny.

As a big cinema fan, I always love when music really enhances a scene, and “Pata Pata (Stereo Version)” by Miriam Makeba does just that in this show. It plays during a flashback where Grace is happily picking out supplies for an experiment back on Earth – a really sweet moment before everything goes crazy in space. It’s a fun, upbeat song for a fun, upbeat scene, and it features Carl, played by Lionel Boyce, who’s Grace’s supervisor. There’s a really charming montage of them goofing around in a hardware store, with a lot of playful improvisation and physical comedy. Honestly, the whole thing reminded me of the energy from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s earlier work on the Jump Street movies – just a really lighthearted and enjoyable moment.

As a fan, I’ve always loved how “El Amanecer – 1a Version” by Carlos Di Sarli and his Orchestra is used in the film. It plays during that incredible scene where the Hail Mary is drifting in space and Rocky’s ship creates a tunnel for the main characters to finally meet. The music perfectly matches the graceful, precise movements of the ships. It honestly gives me serious 2001: A Space Odyssey vibes! The filmmakers really showcased the detailed design of the Hail Mary, and they weren’t afraid to make that first contact between humans and aliens feel truly beautiful and awe-inspiring.

Dennis Wilson’s gentle song, “Rainbows,” accompanies a scene where Grace shows Rocky the wonders of Earth. They’re in a large room on the spaceship Hail Mary, with footage of Earth displayed on the walls. Grace uses these images of nature to reconnect with his purpose, but the moment is tinged with sadness, as he keeps from Rocky the fact that their mission is likely one-way.

In Project Hail Mary, the story uses flashbacks to reveal how the main character, Grace, ended up on his crucial mission to save Earth. He remembers a relaxed moment at a small party on the aircraft carriers where the team is working. While taking a break from the intense pressure, Grace overhears two characters singing “Wind of Change” by the Scorpions on karaoke. This scene cleverly leads into another memorable musical moment in the film.

One of my favorite parts of Project Hail Mary involves a surprising karaoke scene. Most of the movie focuses on Ryland Grace being completely alone in space, but the flashbacks show him interacting with Sandra Hüller, who plays Eva Stratt. She’s the one in charge of the whole project to save the sun, and she’s carrying a huge weight on her shoulders trying to figure out how to save humanity. There’s this moment where she lets her guard down and sings Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times” on a karaoke machine. It’s a really darkly funny choice, and it really hits home just how much is riding on Ryland’s mission. It’s a small detail, but it stuck with me!

The song “Po Atarau” by the Turakina Maori Girls Choir plays after Grace and Rocky say goodbye. It follows their successful mission to save both of their stars and their subsequent celebration. As Grace detaches the dock connecting their ships, the music underscores a deeply emotional moment, reflecting on their shared journey and the feeling that they may never see each other again.

Mercedes Sosa’s “Gracias A La Vida” appears during a particularly sad flashback to Earth. It plays after we learn a shocking truth: Grace was unexpectedly asked to join the mission when the original science officers died. Terrified of dying, Grace initially refused, but was then drugged and forced onto the ship. The song accompanies the scene where Grace, unconscious, is prepared for the launch of the Hail Mary. The irony is that the song’s lyrics express gratitude for life, contrasting with Grace’s situation.

In Andy Weir’s novel, the spacecraft Grace uses to send vital data back to Earth are called “Beetles.” The engineer designing these probes was a Beatles fan and named each one after a member of the band. Given this detail, it’s fitting that the filmmakers included the Beatles’ song “Two Of Us” in the scene where the Beetles launch into space. The song’s repeating chorus, “we’re on our way home,” perfectly captures the moment.

In Neil Diamond’s “Stargazer,” Grace uncovers a disturbing truth: the organism they rescued both their worlds with will destroy Rocky’s ship. Faced with a difficult choice, Grace must decide whether to prioritize his own return home or use his remaining fuel to save Rocky and the planet Erid. Ultimately, Grace chooses to sacrifice his chance of going home to help Rocky. The song “Stargazer” begins as Grace tries to pinpoint the possible location of Rocky’s ship.

The final moments of Project Hail Mary really stuck with me. As the credits rolled, they didn’t just use typical graphics – they showcased stunning, real photos of nebulae. Honestly, it was breathtaking to see what space actually looks like. They paired this with Ike & Tina Turner’s “Glory, Glory,” and it just…worked. Looking at something so beautiful and immense naturally makes you feel like there’s something bigger out there. It felt incredibly fitting for this film, which, like the book it’s based on, really strives for scientific accuracy. Ending with these real images really drove home the sheer scale and wonder of the universe, and it was a perfect final touch.

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2026-03-26 23:06