“Project Hail Mary” is shattering box-office expectations, raking in nearly $141 million globally in its opening weekend, a record for 2026. And with no major competition on the horizon, the sci-fi thriller should remain master of the universe for the near future.

What makes the feat even more impressive is that “Project” isn’t animated (“Lilo & Stitch”), based on a toy (“A Minecraft Movie”) or part of an established franchise (“Superman”). In that way, it’s a lot like “Sinners,” which had a worldwide take of $61 million during its first three days in theaters last April.

Here are five reasons “Project” is getting an out-of-this-world reception.

We’re desperate to feel good

The plot doesn’t sound like we’re in for a joyride. Ryan Gosling plays a disgraced scientist, lured into space to save the world from destruction. One catch: It appears to be a suicide mission; there’s no return ticket.

Despite the gloomy premise, the movie is jam-packed with humor and optimism, especially when the reluctant astronaut is joined by Rocky, the most lovable alien since Baby Yoda. During a time of war, high gas prices and long TSA lines, “Project” ends up being the ideal escape pod.

Ryan Gosling is a big-time star

The 45-year-old actor has served up plenty of blockbusters, but his co-stars — Margot Robbie (“Barbie”), Harrison Ford (“Blade Runner 2049″), Emma Stone (“La La Land”) — got the lion’s share of the credit. Now Gosling is proving he’s a draw on his own. 2024’s “The Fall Guy” may have lost money for the studio, but it still grossed $182 million around the world.

Gosling has made his fair share of bombs, like his last space movie, “First Man.” But for the most part, he’s a reliable brand. In the past 25 years, he’s snagged three Oscar nominations and contributed in enduring favorites like “The Notebook” and “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” He’s become a favorite at “Saturday Night Live,” despite giggling his way through sketches. Audiences trust him.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller make blockbusters

The duo hadn’t co-directed since 2014, focusing instead on executive producing crowd favorites like “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and “The Mitchells vs. the Machines.” But their track record at the helm is phenomenal. Their previous four outings as directors, which include “The Lego Movie” and the “21 Jump Street” flicks, have grossed a total of over $1 billion.

Lord and Miller specialize in generating laughs that appeal to all ages and displaying an unabashed love for pop culture. “Project” may be futuristic, but there are plenty of nods to old Hollywood, including references to “Rocky,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and a “sort of” cameo from a screen legend. They’re more interested in entertaining than preaching.

Adapting the “Archie” comics for the big screen sounds like a terrible idea. But the fact hat these two are working on it should have you thirsting for a return to Pop Tate’s Chock’lit Shoppe.

Andy Weir’s books were made for Hollywood

The genius behind the book version of “Project” has had only one other novel adapted for the movies. But it was a doozy. “The Martian,” which was also about a stranded, inventive astronaut, earned seven Oscar nominations and wound up in the top 10 most popular movies of 2015.

Weir, a former computer programmer, gets a lot of credit for serving up science fiction that seems plausible, though it’s hard to believe that the rock-spider alien in “Project” would have thumbs. Lord and Miller say they have plans to adapt Weir’s novel “Artemis” in the future.

The timing is right

The old Hollywood rule is to premiere potential blockbusters between April and July and award-worthy films in November or December. Audiences traditionally don’t flock to theaters in January, February and March unless they’re lured in by a bankable superhero like Captain America. Maybe the unusually warm weather last weekend tricked us into thinking the prime movie season had already begun.

If “Project” has the staying power of ”Sinners,“ it should get rereleased later in the year so it’s fresh in the mind of Oscar voters. Rocky the alien is already practicing his acceptance speech.

———

(Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic of The Minnesota Star Tribune.)

———

©2026 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.