I sat down for an early press screening of Project Hail Mary (2026) in IMAX, and I had very, very high expectations because this is, by far and away, my favorite novel I’ve ever read. Andy Weir’s story has that space-survival DNA—think The Martian meets Interstellar meets Castaway—and I went in hoping the movie would capture the same epic scope and problem-solving magic that made the book such a ride. From a technical standpoint, the movie looks spectacular. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller shot it digitally and then transferred it to film stock, so it has this warm, grainy, more cinematic look that I’m always going to prefer. Story-wise, Ryan Gosling has the charisma to carry Ryland Grace, but I’ll be honest: the first act is jarring and moves really fast, with a lot thrown at you to get the plot rolling. Once the movie hits the second act—especially when the pivotal “secondary character” enters the picture—the whole thing becomes immensely better, with camaraderie, levity, and heart. As an adaptation, it’s a very solid A-minus for me. The big highlights and main plot points from the book are here, and they didn’t bastardize the structure just to change things. My main hang-ups are that some space problems get resolved so quickly you lose suspense, and the tone leans lighter than the novel when I wanted a bit more of that darker, dramatic edge.