Filmmaking duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s golden touch continues with space epic Hail Project Mary, starring Ryan Gosling.
Friday’s opening-day gross of $33.1 million, including $12 million in previews, puts the film on course for a better-than-expected domestic opening of $77 million-plus, according to Amazon MGM Studios.
Only three non-sequel, non-franchise films have opened above $50 million in the post-pandemic era; Oppenheimer, F1: The Movie and It End With Us. And only two, Oppenheimer and It, crossed $70 million. In terms of the genre itself, Project Hail Mary would share rarefied air with Interstellar’s opening in 2014.
Project Hail Mary was looking at a debut of $50 million-plus heading into the weekend.
Critics and audiences are embracing the warm-hearted, adventure-action movie in almost equal measure, which is the sweet spot for every studio. And it certainly doesn’t hurt to have screenwriter Drew Goddard back in the fold after successfully adapting another Weir novel, The Martian, for the big screen.
The movie, also starring Sandra Hüller and James Ortiz , is opening in 82 markets around the globe timed to its U.S. launch, including the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Korea, Japan, and China.
Among the weekend’s other wide releases to watch is Searchlight Pictures’ Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. The film, directed by filmmaking duo Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett), stars Samara Weaving reprising her role as the fan-favorite, Grace. Internationally, the film also opens in territories including the UK, Australia and Brazil, along with additional smaller markets. It will be open almost everywhere by mid-April.
This story was originally published March 20 10:39 a.m.
