Entertainment News

'Project Hail Mary' opens to $80.5M and $140.9M worldwide, Amazon MGM's best debut

Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, opened to about $80.5 million in North America over the weekend of March 20–22, studio estimates show. AP reports that it added $60.4 million from 82 markets, for a global start of $140.9 million.

It is the biggest opening of the year so far and a record for Amazon MGM, whose previous best was Creed III at $58 million. AP says it is the second-biggest opening for a non-franchise film, behind Oppenheimer's $82.4 million, and well ahead of The Martian ($54.3 million) and Interstellar ($47.5 million). The film cost about $200 million. Premium large-format screens made up 56% of the weekend's gross.

“a momentum builder like no other” — Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore, via AP

Hoppers was second with $18 million, and the Indian action film Dhurandhar: The Revenge was third with about $10 million.

How each outlet framed it

• AP (via Boston.com) — the records and the audience: five stars on PostTrak, 57% male, 55% under 35, and the year's box office up about 21%.
• Rotten Tomatoes — the reviews: a 95% Tomatometer, “the best score for any wide release in 2026”, an A CinemaScore, and Gosling's previous best opening, Blade Runner 2049 at $32.7 million.
• tbreak (UAE) — the global and IMAX side: $27.6 million from IMAX, and the year's biggest global debut, ahead of Scream 7.

Where the numbers differ: AP gives $80.5 million, while Rotten Tomatoes' chart and tbreak list $80.6 million. Rotten Tomatoes says early tracking had been as low as $50 million.