These are 10 films like Project Hail Mary you’ll definitely want to watch next. Project Hail Mary was an unexpected favourite for me as I hadn’t read the book before and went into it completely blindly.
I liked the plot of this movie a lot as it revolves around friendship and it isn’t too confusing.
I had no idea just how much I’d enjoy it as it’s quirky and funny. Ryan Gosling is fantastic in this film .
Not to mention, Proj ect Hail Mary includes some great moments, including the iconic quotes said such as “fist my bump” to “amaze.”
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably still thinking about it. But if you’re genuinely curious to find movies like Project Hail Mary, read this post.
Things You Should Know About Project Hail Mary
Genre: Science Fiction / Adventure
Star: Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace
Runtime: Approximately 2 hours and 36 minutes.
Based on: Project Hail Mary (2021 novel by Andy Weir)
Where to watch: Cinema release (streaming details TBC)
Project Hail Mary Movie Synopsis
As I’ve mentioned, I couldn’t help but finding the plot extremely entering, especially the last half of Project Hail Mary.
In this film, we follow a science teacher named Ryland Grace. He’s incredibly smart but also quite awkward. Grace is an teacher and seemingly has no capability of being an astronaut. Or so he thought.
He’s soon tasked with an enormous responsibility—heading into space on a mission to save the entire planet.
Ryland knows a lot about science, but he also lacks confidence and doesn’t exactly have the practical engineering or piloting skills to see him through the mission.
As he’s thrown into the deep end, he begins desperately learning how to survive.
Amidst all of this, he encounters an alien lifeform, and the two form an unexpected bond.
The pair begin to work through problems, learning from each other along the way.
Interstellar
- Genre: Sci-fi / Adventure
- Star: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway
- Runtime: 169 minutes
- Director: Christopher Nolan
- Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
You might expect this one to be at the top of the list. Interstellar became a huge sci-fi hit when it was released in 2014.
It also features an outstanding cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, and Michael Caine.
This has to be one of the most popular space films out there. Much like Project Hail Mary, it’s about bravery and determination, even when the odds are stacked against the characters.
It’s an incredibly strong film from Christopher Nolan.
The visual effects are absolutely on point, even winning an Academy Award in 2015. It’s definitely one to watch.
The Martian
- Genre: Sci-fi / Adventure
- Star: Matt Damon
- Runtime: 2 hours 31 minutes
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video
Just like Project Hail Mary, The Martian is adapted from a book by Andy Weir.
Starring Matt Damon, it follows an astronaut who determined to make it back home after a space mission.
Damon plays Dr. Mark Watney, a botanist and mechanical engineer who’s part of the Ares III mission to Mars and ends up being stranded there alone.
It’s definitely action-packed, but what makes it stand out is how easy the story is to follow.
If you enjoyed Project Hail Mary, this is absolutely one to watch. It’s all about hope, loneliness, and determination in the face of disaster.
Oblivion
Genre: Sci-fi / Action
Star: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman
Runtime: 2 hours 4 minutes
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Oblivion is a 2013 film starring none other than Hollywood star Tom Cruise.
This isn’t one of my favourites, but if there’s one thing it does really well, it’s the visuals.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world after an alien war, Cruise plays Jack Harper, a technician maintaining drones on a damaged Earth.
During his missions, he begins to uncover secrets that make him question everything he knows. It’s not perfect, but it’s still worth a watch for the acting and the cinematics.
Gravity
Genre: Thriller/ Sci-fi
Star: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Runtime: 2 hours 31 minutes
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Sandra Bullock helms this incredibly moving and heroic space film.
The actress plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a medical engineer. Gravity is a film that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.
The film tackles space disasters, with Stone facing a terrifying life-or-death situation, much like Project Hail Mary. It also has a satisfying and well-earned ending. It is an Oscar Award winning films, with nods under its belt from Outstanding British Film to Best Director.
Arrival
Genre: Thriller / Sci-Fi
Stars: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker
Runtime: 1 hour 56 minutes
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Arrival is a popular space movie from 2016.
The premise of this movie is about humans trying to communicate with aliens who come to Earth.
Amy Adams stars in the film, and she gives a strong and emotional performance, even though it’s different from her usual roles.
The movie is definitely one that is exciting, thought-provoking, and well-loved by many.
Passengers
Genre: Thriller / Sci-Fi
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt
Runtime: 1 hour 56 minutes
Director: Morten Tyldum
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Passengers is a space-set film that fans of Project Hail Mary will likely enjoy.
The story follows two characters who wake up 90 years too early from hibernation on a spaceship traveling to a distant colony.
The film includes themes of loneliness, survival, and unexpected companionship. It is an entertaining and easy watch.
Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt have great on-screen chemistry too. The movie was released in 2016.
The Midnight Sky
Genre: Thriller / Sci-Fi
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt
Runtime: 1 hour 56 minutes
Director: Morten Tyldum
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
If you’re new to the sci-fi film genre, The Midnight Sky is definitely one to watch.
The film runs at a fairly typical length for movies in this genre.
The story follows a lone scientist stationed in the Arctic as he races against time to warn a returning spacecraft of a mysterious global catastrophe.
It is directed by George Clooney. This great viewing for fans of Project Hail Mary or for first-time viewers of sci-fi.
Ad Astra
Genre: Thriller / Sci-Fi
Stars: Brad Pitt
Runtime: 2 hours 3 minutes
Director: James Gray
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
This film stars none other than Hollywood star Brad Pitt, playing Roy Richard McBride.
Ad Astra has a strange yet interesting plot, following an astronaut who travels into space in search of his lost father. During his journey, Roy is also curious to discover alien life, but everything goes completely wrong.
I’d say this is a good choice if you’re looking for a quick sci-fi movie, but it isn’t the best compared to others on the list.
Apparently, the film is loosely inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and was originally set to take place on Saturn.
However, the location was changed to Neptune, as the directors didn’t want it to feel too similar to that film.
Sunshine
Genre: Thriller / Sci-Fi
Stars: Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Rose Byrne
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Director: Danny Boyle
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Sunshine is a sci-fi thriller released in 2007. The plot revolves around a team of astronauts on a dangerous mission to reignite the dying sun and save Earth from a frozen future. It is a good film for those interested in natural disasters. The movie stars a young Cillian Murphy, who later became known for his roles in Peaky Blinders and Oppenheimer. It also stars Chris Evans and Rose Byrne, along with other cast members. It’s definitely a good choice of film for Project Hail Mary da
A gripping mission to save Earth, combining science with psychological tension.
Moon
Genre: Sci-Fi / Psychological Thriller
Stars: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey
Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes
Director: Duncan Jones
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Much like Project Hail May, this film follows a man’s solo trip to space. In the Moon, we follow Sam Bell (played by Sam Rockwell). He is an employee working at a lunar station. He experiences a personal crisis as he nears the end of a three-year solitary stint mining helium-3 on the far side of the Moon.
Contact
Genre: Sci-Fi / Drama
Stars: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt
Runtime: 2 hours 30 minutes
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Let’s take it all the way back to 1997 with this film. Contact is a sci-fi flick starring Matthew McConaughey, Jodie Foster, and James Woods.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, it is based on the 1985 novel by Carl Sagan. Essentially, it follows a group of scientists who encounter aliens and attempt to make contact with them.
Europa Report
Genre: Sci-Fi / Drama
Stars: Sharlto Copley, Embeth Davidtz, Michael Nyqvist
Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes
Director: Sebastián Cordero
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
Europa Report is a sci-fi drama about a crew of astronauts on a mission to Jupiter’s moon, Europa, after signs point to possible life beneath its icy surface.
Told through recovered footage, the film follows the team as they face equipment failures and mounting danger, yet continue their mission—ultimately discovering they may not be alone beneath the ice.