Studio: Amazon Studios
Release Date: August 11, 2026
Rating: PG-13
Film: 5/5
Plot Based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel,
Project Hail Mary follows middle‑school science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), who wakes up alone on a spacecraft with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. As fragments of his past return, Grace discovers he’s on a desperate mission to save Earth from an extinction‑level event — and he’s the only human left who can complete it.
My Thoughts Andy Weir’s first novel,
The Martian, is one of my favorite movies of the past 20 years, and it inspired me to read the book it was based on, which I enjoyed just as much. So when I heard that his latest book,
Project Hail Mary, was going to hit theaters, I couldn’t wait to see it. All I can say is WOW — the film does a great job of balancing the scientific challenges with the emotional weight of what Grace is facing. As much as Gosling nails the role, it’s Rocky who steals the show. I want to remain spoiler‑free, but the relationship between Grace and Rocky is where this film shines, and it’s a rare sci‑fi film that can make you both laugh and cry throughout its 156‑minute runtime.
The film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and the pair do a great job of keeping the pacing just right for the subject matter. They gracefully bounce between Grace’s present‑day mission while also exploring his slowly returning memories. I saw the film in theaters, and even though this was my second viewing, knowing the ending didn’t take away one moment of enjoyment. While the film is definitely sci‑fi, it’s really a character‑driven story that delivers from beginning to end.
It’s rare to find a new film that doesn’t shine in 4K, and this is no exception. The image is razor‑sharp with pinpoint resolution, and the HDR grade is used to excellent effect throughout the film. Blacks are inky and stable — a must given that most of the film takes place in space — and the dimly lit interiors of the spaceship are very revealing with detail. Color reproduction is excellent, and skin tones look natural and accurate.
The Dolby Atmos track is powerful and immersive, although it leans more heavily on the bed channels than the overheads. The front and surround channels are extremely active, delivering crisp dialogue, detailed environmental cues, and strong directional effects. While the overheads are present, I felt like they could have been used more aggressively to make the most of the environments portrayed in the film. Dialogue reproduction is excellent, coupled with strong dynamics and LFE.
Video 9.5/10
Audio 9.5/10 (Dolby Atmos)
Special Features: - Audio Commentary by Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
- Earth’s Favorite Eridian Featurette
- Deleted Scenes
Conclusion My wife and I absolutely loved
Project Hail Mary. It’s one of the best sci‑fi films in recent memory, and I can’t wait to finally read the novel. Gosling delivers a standout performance as the stranded space traveler, and his relationship with Rocky is wildly entertaining and convincingly shows how the two become the best of friends. Amazon’s theatrical releases have been less‑than‑stellar, but they hit the ball out of the park on this one. The UHD has excellent A/V quality and, like
The Martian, can be watched over and over again without ever becoming dull. Highly recommended.
Reference Review System: JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(I utilized
Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Zidoo UHD8000 Media Player
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
Dual Rythmik FV15HP2
Mini DSP HD
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
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