Amazon MGM Studios has shattered its own internal records as Project Hail Mary officially becomes the studio’s highest-grossing film of all time, surpassing the performance of Creed III. The sci-fi epic, anchored by a performance from Ryan Gosling, has proven that high-budget, non-franchise storytelling can dominate the modern box office.
A High-Stakes Gamble That Paid Off
The film represents a massive investment for Amazon, with a reported production budget of around $200 million. Unlike typical blockbuster fare, this project is not a sequel or a pre-existing franchise installment. Instead, it adapts the bestselling science fiction novel by Andy Weir, the author behind the critically acclaimed The Martian.
The narrative itself breaks traditional molds. For significant portions of the runtime, Ryan Gosling is the sole human actor on screen, portraying a scientist tasked with solving a cosmic mystery involving the dimming of stars alongside a unique, rock-like alien entity.
Box Office Domination and Sustained Momentum
According to data reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the film has generated an estimated $164.3 million in North America and an additional $136.2 million internationally within just 10 days of its theatrical release. The film’s staying power is notable, having experienced only a 32% drop during its second weekend, pulling in $54.5 million domestically.
With these figures, Project Hail Mary currently stands as the biggest box office hit of 2026 and ranks among the most successful original, non-sequel properties released in the last decade.
A Strategic Shift for Amazon MGM Studios
This success marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Amazon MGM Studios. The company has transitioned from distributing smaller, prestige-focused titles like The Big Sick to aggressively pursuing major theatrical releases. This shift follows high-profile moves, including the acquisition of MGM—which sparked a battle for control of the James Bond franchise—and an stated ambition to bring 14 movies into theaters annually.
Prior to this breakthrough, several of the studio’s theatrical attempts—including After the Hunt, Mercy, and the Melania documentary—struggled to find traction with general audiences.
The Future of Amazon’s Theatrical Slate
Courtenay Valenti, head of film at Amazon, confirmed to The New York Times that the strong opening for Project Hail Mary validates the studio’s current strategy of producing “big, bold entertaining commercial films.” The company is now looking to maintain this momentum with upcoming releases, including The Sheep Detectives starring Hugh Jackman in May, followed by a reboot of Masters of the Universe in June.