Box Office: ‘Project Hail Mary’ Strengthens with $53M Weekend as ‘They Will Kill You’ Struggles
Los Angeles, CA – The sci-fi film Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling, continues to impress at the box office, projected to earn approximately $53.1 million this weekend. This marks a modest decline of just 34% from its opening weekend, showcasing one of the best holds in recent memory for films that debuted in a similar range. Notably, this performance rivals that of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer (54%) and Dune: Part 2 (44%).
Strong Domestic and International Performance
After a robust $14.6 million on Friday, Project Hail Mary is expected to surpass $200 million globally by Sunday. This total includes an estimated $137 million from domestic markets and over $100 million from international audiences.
The film, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, launched with an impressive $80.6 million domestically last weekend, marking the best opening of the year and the second-best in a decade for a non-sequel or franchise film, following Oppenheimer‘s $52.5 million. While Gosling’s highest-grossing film remains Barbie, Project Hail Mary represents his largest domestic opening in a leading role, unadjusted for inflation.
International Success
Project Hail Mary is also exceeding expectations overseas, where the sci-fi genre often faces challenges in certain European countries and key regions in Latin America and Asia. The film has grossed approximately $60.4 million from 80 international markets, contributing to a global launch of around $141 million, the best start for a Hollywood title in 2026 thus far.
On Friday, the film earned $11.7 million internationally, reflecting a 4% increase from the previous Friday, bringing its total international earnings to $98.7 million across 86 markets.
Plot Overview
In Project Hail Mary, Gosling portrays an isolated biologist who, after being recruited by an international consortium led by Sandra Hüller, must confront the impending threat of the sun dimming and triggering another ice age. Awakening alone on a spaceship, he discovers that the rest of the crew has perished. As he navigates his situation, he encounters an alien life form, nicknamed “Rocky,” who is also seeking a solution to the same crisis. Their evolving relationship becomes central to the narrative as they work together to tackle the looming disaster.
Franchise Potential
Insiders suggest that a sequel may be on the horizon, as author Andy Weir has expressed interest in continuing the story. However, no formal discussions have taken place regarding a follow-up, leaving the future of the franchise open-ended.
Industry Context
The film’s success coincides with a pivotal moment for Amazon MGM, which is on the verge of becoming a significant player in Hollywood. This development occurs as David Ellison’s Skydance prepares to integrate Warner Bros. Discovery into its portfolio. The implications of such a merger are expected to attract scrutiny from regulatory bodies, particularly given the political connections surrounding Ellison.
Competing Releases
In other box office news, Hoppers is projected to earn between $11 million and $12 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total to approximately $137.3 million. This performance highlights Pixar’s continued ability to produce original content, contrasting with Elio, which grossed $72.9 million domestically.
In the race for third place, They Will Kill You is competing with Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the latest installment in the Indian action-thriller series starring Ranveer Singh, and Universal’s adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Reminders of Him.
They Will Kill You, a collaboration between New Line and Skydance, follows a group of tenants in a luxury New York City building who engage in ritualistic killings. Directed by Kirill Sokolov, the film has received a 79% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, while critics have rated it at 65%. Despite a solid reception, its performance has not met expectations.
Additionally, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, a horror-comedy from Searchlight Pictures, is in its second weekend, having opened to $9.1 million domestically.
As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.
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Published on 2026-03-28 23:59:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk