Project Hail Mary ranks as the third-biggest non-sequel and non-franchise film to open above $50m overseas since the Covid pandemic, along with Oppenheimer and F1: The Movie.
Five years after it acquired MGM for $8.45bn, Amazon now looks to have its first big commercial hit on hands – as it vies for position with the other major streamers.
BBC Culture film reviewer Nicolas Barber described the space epic as “a mind-stretching sci-fi” that manages to be “zippily entertaining” throughout, while Empire called it , external”witty, wise and preposterously entertaining”.
But Variety said it was , externaltoo “generic” and “incredibly derivative of movies like Interstellar”, while The Guardian noted, external there are “moments of dullness and puppyish silliness” but that “Gosling is an effortlessly charming screen player” who keeps the film “watchable”.
Amazon MGM’s other recent efforts have included Melania, about the US First Lady, and the R-rated thriller Crime 101, with the forthcoming Masters of the Universe set for release in June.