Amazon MGM’s ‘Project Hail Mary’ Breaks Box Office Records with Strong Global Sales

Amazon MGM Studios scored its biggest box office success yet with the release of Project Hail Mary, which has now surpassed Creed III as the company’s top-grossing film. Directed on a substantial budget of around $200 million, the movie stands out as an ambitious non-franchise, non-sequel production. Adapted from Andy Weir’s bestselling novel, the film stars Ryan Gosling as a lone astronaut tasked with uncovering why several stars, including the Sun, are mysteriously dimming. The story’s unconventional structure—featuring Gosling as the sole human presence for significant portions of the film—did not deter audiences. After just ten days in theaters, Project Hail Mary raked in approximately $164.3 million domestically and $136.2 million overseas, totaling about $300 million globally. Impressively, its domestic earnings dropped only 32% in the second weekend, suggesting sustained audience enthusiasm. The film’s success makes it 2026’s top hit to date and among the decade’s most profitable original sci-fi features. For Amazon MGM, which has grown from distributing independent dramas like Manchester by the Sea to producing large-scale theatrical films, this accomplishment validates its strategy of pursuing bold, commercially appealing projects. According to the studio’s head of film, Courtenay Valenti, the strong opening for Project Hail Mary supports their plan to release around 14 major films annually, with upcoming titles such as The Sheep Detectives and a Masters of the Universe reboot scheduled for release later in 2026.