‘Project Hail Mary’ becomes highest-grossing debut of the year, crosses $140.9 mn globally

Ryan Gosling’s sci-fi spectacle ‘Project Hail Mary’ has emerged as the highest-grossing debut of the year, earning a massive $140.9 million (£122 million) worldwide at the global box office.

The film was released globally on March 21, and has already delivered a stellar opening across international markets. It is set to release in India on March 26 giving Indian audiences their first chance to experience the space adventure on the big screen.

Adapted from Andy Weir’s bestselling 2021 novel, the film follows a school teacher who wakes up alone aboard a spaceship with no memory of how he got there, unfolding into a high-stakes mission to save humanity.

Within days of its release, the film has topped this year’s debut charts and become one of the biggest non-sequel, non-franchise openings post-Covid, crossing the $50 million mark overseas a rare achievement in a franchise-dominated era.

Screenwriter Drew Goddard expressed strong confidence in the project, largely due to Gosling’s involvement.

“Any fear I had… was instantly gone knowing Ryan was doing this with us. He can do anything,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.

Despite industry-wide budget cuts, Project Hail Mary went all-in on scale. Goddard said there was “no cheap version” of the film and that its universal appeal spanning kids to grandparents justified its mega-budget approach.

“We’re going big and swinging for the fences… it’s about making the best movie possible.”

(With inputs from syndicated feed)