Ryan Gosling’s latest movie, Project Hail Mary (2026), is dominating the box office, and it’s not surprising. Based on the book of the same name by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary is an ambitious work of hard sci-fi that offers an irresistible story. In the film, former middle school teacher Ryland Grace (Gosling) wakes up with amnesia on board a spacecraft. As his memory slowly returns, he realizes he’s Earth’s last hope to save humanity. On his mission, he meets an unexpected companion.
With tidbits of astrophysics, microbiology, physics, and chemistry, it’s the perfect movie to nerd out to, while also containing enough heart and entertainment to appeal to the non-science community. If you want to get an idea of what Project Hail Mary entails or are eager for more of its vibe, you can use our guide to find the five best sci-fi movies like it to watch on platforms like Pluto TV, Paramount+, and more.
Gravity (2013)
If you’re looking for a deep space adventure with thrills and real science, look no further than Gravity. The Alfonso Cuarón-directed movie centers on two astronauts, Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Lt. Matthew Kowalski (George Clooney), who are stranded in space and realize reaching the International Space Station may be their only hope for survival. Like Project Hail Mary, Gravity sets up the high stakes right off the bat with its tale of sole survivors forced to make sense of the alien environment that is outer space.
At the same time, the film is a little more personal than Project Hail Mary. Rather than a story of saving the world, it’s a story of one woman’s determination and resilience to make it back home. While not entirely accurate, the science and depiction of outer space are convincing, and the performances by Bullock and Clooney will resonate emotionally.
Interstellar (2014)
Interstellar tells the story of NASA scientist Dr. Amelia Brand (Anne Hathaway) and NASA pilot Joseph “Coop” Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), who set off on a daring mission to find a habitable planet to save humankind as Earth deteriorates. Its plot closely parallels Project Hail Mary, in which the future of humanity rests in the hands of a few ambitious astronauts. Additionally, both films feature real science, with Interstellar exploring black holes, wormholes, time dilation, and other physics concepts.
Interstellar will especially appeal to viewers who loved Project Hail Mary but are interested in an even more complex hard-science movie. While the film is a little complicated, it still manages to balance its human and scientific elements. Beneath the dazzling visuals and scientific concepts lies a very beautiful story of one family’s love for each other.
The Martian (2015)
The Martian comes closest to Project Hail Mary on this list, as Andy Weir's books inspired both movies. In The Martian, astronaut and engineer Dr. Mark Watney (Matt Damon) must find a way to survive after he’s stranded on Mars following a space mission gone wrong. I find The Martian is an excellent alternative for fans seeking a story that’s even more grounded than Project Hail Mary. Between its scientific accuracy and its decision to forgo any fantastical elements, it becomes a deeply intriguing human adventure on Mars.
The film proves that you can have sci-fi and visuals, while still driving a story more on heart than spectacle. If you loved the heart of Project Hail Mary, you’ll find The Martian is even more relatable in its tale of human survival and resilience. It has a similar dash of humor but ultimately goes for a more intimate, human story that viewers seeking a grounded approach will love.
Arrival (2016)
One of the reasons Project Hail Mary stands out is that it manages to mix hard sci-fi with aliens, which is something not a lot of other films have done, except Arrival. The film follows linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams), who leads a team of researchers as they race against the clock to establish communication with extraterrestrials after 12 spacecrafts land on Earth with an unknown motive.
Arrival and Project Hail Mary set themselves apart by depicting alien life forms in a more thought-provoking and realistic manner than typical alien-invasion or space-battle movies. Arrival, in particular, takes a grounded approach to what first contact with aliens might look like. It’s the kind of movie you watch when you want one that doesn’t needlessly villainize extraterrestrials but offers a little more complexity than E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982).
Ad Astra (2019)
Ad Astra centers on Roy McBride (Brad Pitt), who sets off to find his father, H. Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones), who disappeared on a space exploration mission thirty years earlier. Like Project Hail Mary, Ad Astra is an excellent blend of sci-fi adventure and drama. With stunning visuals, it offers a dazzling space adventure that truly captures the cosmos's magnitude and beauty.
The film isn’t very scientifically accurate, but what it lacks in accuracy it makes up for in heart. Like Interstellar, it’s a heartfelt story about family and the complicated relationships that persist across space and time. If you loved Project Hail Mary and are looking for a deep space story with an equal amount of heart and visuals, but with an elevated sense of adventure, Ad Astra is an excellent watch.
