this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2026
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“Project Hail Mary” is bringing audiences to movie theaters in numbers the industry hasn’t seen for a non-franchise film since “Oppenheimer.” The science fiction epic starring Ryan Gosling earned around $80.5 million in ticket sales in its first weekend playing in North America, according to studio estimates Sunday. Box office tracker EntTelligence estimates that translates into about 5 million ticket buyers.

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[–] becausechemistry@piefed.social 64 points 3 weeks ago (17 children)

I read and enjoyed the book, but the movie improved on some story beats and trimmed some sciencey stuff that wouldn’t have translated well to the screen. Pretty great adaptation.

If you’re considering watching it, do try to avoid the trailers for it. I understand that you have to market the story, but introducing things in ads that should have been delightful surprises kinda stinks.

[–] Vathsade@lemmy.ca 26 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

I managed to avoid all trailers, bought tickets for the family, got to our seats and guess what was showing in the early trailers? That's right, clips from the movie spoiling Rocky and giving stupid facts.

Like WTF?

Don't show promotional material for the movie you're already in, let alone spoilery ones

[–] SupraMario@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

I've read the book a billion times, it's so damn good, (listened to it ray porter is amazing in everything he reads) and watched the trailer and yea....they spoil the hell out of the big surprise. Like damn...

[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

The trick is to find a theatre that lets you reserve seats with your tickets and then show up about 10 minutes late to miss all the ads spoilers/trailers for other movies.

It's one area where my procrastination paid off and gave a better experience instead of a worse one.

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[–] Lighttrails@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I was trying to abstain from the trailer. I was watching a live episode of Saturday night live when it cut to commercial- the project Hail Mary trailer. They showed Rocky in the first 5 seconds! I was pissed off. I had to quiet my rage at 11:30 pm while my wife and kid were sleeping. I hate movie trailers

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Rocky isn't even the biggest twist, tho.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Which is why they put him in the trailers. They wanted a cute character beside the Hollywood guy.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

I assume you mean Ryan Gosling is the cute character beside the Hollywood guy, Rocky.

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Honestly trailers are why I'm not seeing it. With the massive spoilers I don't want marketers to have my money. I'll watch it at home later, but very upset with them. I know it's small in the grand scheme of things, but I'm very annoyed at them

[–] ButteryMonkey@piefed.social 3 points 3 weeks ago

When you can just watch a couple trailers and get all the major plot points, why waste the money?

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Agreed on all points! Went with a friend who hadn't read the book, and the important story beats hadn't been ruined for her; certain emotional points hit her hard. So well executed.

[–] becausechemistry@piefed.social 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Dude certain emotional points still hit me hard and I had just re-read the book two weeks ago

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Turns out these chumps knew how to make a fuckin' movie.

[–] harrys_balzac@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago

I managed to avoid the trailers and just caught some pre-release hype which motivated me to go see it. I didn't read the book so I can't compare the film to the book. It's definitely one of the best movies I've seen. I really enjoyed it.

I went to a 9pm Thursday showing and the theatre was probably 3/4 full which I haven't seen in a general screening in a long time, definitely since the pandemic.

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Does the movie keep the suprise? I've read the book, just hoping it pops out of nowhere in the same way.

[–] becausechemistry@piefed.social 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

There are a couple of good surprises, one early-ish and one pretty late. (Trying to avoid spoilers here.)

The early-ish surprise (a character reveal) was a genuine jump-scare for me and I knew exactly what was about to happen. So pretty good.

The later surprise (a revelation about why someone is in their situation) is actually subtly foreshadowed better in the movie than it was in the book. A really great improvement.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

I literally jumped at that first surprise. Well played ...

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[–] unmagical@lemmy.ml 34 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

“Project Hail Mary” is bringing audiences to movie theaters in numbers the industry hasn’t seen for a non-franchise film since “Oppenheimer.”

So, 3 years ago?

[–] Montagge@lemmy.zip 33 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

That's an eternity for dipshit business brains that can't think beyond the current quarter

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 14 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

what if we made Oppenheimer 2: nuclear bugaloo?

[–] Montagge@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 weeks ago

Well everything has to be a trilogy!

[–] Trex202@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Oppenheimer: The Two Towers

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[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 24 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

non-franchise

Are you really saying that people might actually be fed up with recycled and reheated remakes or yet another addition to a superhero universe? Color me shocked...

[–] zaphod@sopuli.xyz 11 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

You're reading that wrong, they're saying franchise films make more money than non-franchise films. You might interpret that as franchise films are still more popular than non-franchise films. Alternatively you could say even though franchise films suck most non-franchise films suck even more.

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[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 11 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (12 children)

Makes sense. The book was really good and had a lot of the same energy that The Martian did. Weir very clearly grew up on Whedon/Tarantino and the constant self-quipping lines up with that. But, at its core, it is competency porn driven by a refusal to fail. The Martian was about Wattney's personal survival whereas PHM is more about the survival of a species. Of course it is going to be good.

That said: never read Artemis. That ALSO makes it very clear that Weir grew up on Tarantino an Whedon and why it is probably only a matter of time until "nobody could have seen this coming". Jesus fucking christ. Jim Butcher isn't even that creepy and there are a LOT of open secrets about who his characters are "inspired by".

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (5 children)

Wait, what's the deal with Jim Butcher?

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[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

Went and saw it. Despite “Rocky” being a little bro to the Galaxy Quest Rock Monster and kinda being cheesy with the “coos” and decidedly un-alien thought processes that were very human…

It was a relief to watch and enjoy.

Not dark, not apocalyptic like supervillains bent on world destruction, not yet another rehash of a franchise or live action reboot.

I was glad to see it. A decent, feel-good original movie.

[–] WildPalmTree@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Since Oppenheimer, you say?! That must have been released like a hundred years ago, right?! Amazing. The world we live in. Truly the future.

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[–] blackwateropeth@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

I’m honestly fatigued with all the reboots/rehashes and marvel slop, glad this one is doing well.

[–] auntieclokwise@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This movie wasn't on my radar at all. After seeing Adam Savage talking about the production, I definitely want to see it.

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[–] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago

Because its actually good and has real humans. Listen up Hollywood.

[–] fubarx@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Read the book, but the audiobook is so much better.

[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

It was a decent book and I guess I'll see the movie eventually. We just have a really lousy theater locally.

[–] TwinTitans@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

“ Good movies bring people into the movie theater.” Who knew?

[–] Don_alForno@feddit.org 2 points 3 weeks ago
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