Since its theatrical release in March, “Project Hail Mary” has quickly become a worldwide phenomenon , earning praise from both movie lovers and critics.

With the film now available for VOD purchase and rental through Amazon Prime Video, many viewers are asking the question: Should I steam it? The answer is simple—yes. With its emotional storytelling, stunning visuals and memorable characters, “Project Hail Mary” delivers an experience that lives up to the hype.

Based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name, “Project Hail Mary” follows Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, a schoolteacher who wakes up on a spaceship, utterly alone, millions of miles from Earth, with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As the movie progresses, Grace slowly regains his memory of the mysterious circumstances that led to this.

Through flashbacks, Grace recalls the global crisis threatening humanity’s survival. Scientists on Earth have observed a strange arc of infrared light traveling from the Sun to Venus. Called the Petrova Line, it is actively cooling the sun, which will cause the Earth’s temperatures to drop dramatically within decades, leading to worldwide famine and another ice age. 

As researchers investigate further, they discover that stars throughout the galaxy are experiencing similar dimming—except for one: Tau Ceti, located more than 70 trillion miles away from Earth.

This prompts the scientists to organize a one-way mission to Tau Ceti. A crew of astronauts is assembled to discover why this distant star remains unaffected. When tragedy strikes before launch, Grace unexpectedly becomes part of the mission and is forced into a role far greater than he ever imagine.

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the film features a strong supporting cast including Sandra Hüller, who plays Eva Stratt; Rocky, played by James Ortiz; and Carl, who is played by Lionel Boyce.

Fans of the film say it’s the best movie of 2026 to date. They credit the film with being a faithful adaptation of the book’s scientific approach while creating a compelling emotional narrative and strong cinematography.  

“I loved how beautiful and stunning the visuals are,” junior Julian Hernandez said. 

Many fans found the highlight of the movie to be the moving bond between Grace and an alien named Rocky, whose friendship is one of the focal points of the film. 

“The storyline was great but the highlight of the movie for me was the relationship between Grace and Rocky. It was peak,” junior Drew Milberg said.  

The film has one of  the biggest theatrical hits of 2026, grossing over $600 million worldwide.  Critics and fans alike praise it for its unique mix of humor, emotion and science as well as Gosling’s performance. They also applaud the film’s thematic blend of survival, science, and friendship, which makes “Project Hail Mary” stand out from the rest of this year’s film releases.  

“It was one of the best movies I’ve seen in theaters in the past few years,” sophomore James Mahanna said.