Move over, Ethan Hunt — there's a new box-office king in town. Ryan Gosling's Project Hail Mary has officially eclipsed Tom Cruise's franchise-ending Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning at the global box office, proving that audiences are hungry for smart, star-driven sci-fi.
Now in its sixth week of release, the Phil Lord and Christopher Miller-directed adaptation of Andy Weir's bestseller has crossed the $600 million mark worldwide, with a domestic haul that just passed $300 million. That puts it ahead of Cruise's $598 million global total for The Final Reckoning, which was released in 2025 to strong reviews but was considered a financial underperformer given its reported $400 million budget.
A Theatrical Triumph for Amazon MGM
Project Hail Mary added another $12 million domestically this weekend, trailing only The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and the new Michael Jackson biopic Michael. The film's remarkable legs suggest it could reach $350 million domestically by the end of its run — a stunning result for Amazon MGM Studios, which took an unconventional approach to its release.
Unlike the studio's Red One, which hit Prime Video just three weeks after its theatrical debut, Project Hail Mary was given a longer exclusive window and even returned to select IMAX theaters for a one-week engagement. That strategy paid off handsomely, especially compared to Amazon's other 2026 sci-fi entry, Mercy starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, which failed to recoup its $60 million budget in theaters.
Critical and Audience Darling
The film's success isn't just about dollars — it's also a critical darling. Project Hail Mary holds a Certified Fresh 94% critics' score and a Verified Hot 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with viewers praising Gosling's charismatic performance and the film's blend of humor, heart, and high-stakes science. For fans of the genre, it's a reminder of what made Ridley Scott's The Martian — also based on an Andy Weir novel — such a hit.
Speaking of Ridley Scott, his 2015 classic The Martian remains a touchstone, but Project Hail Mary is closing the gap. With its strong word-of-mouth and event-movie status, the film is poised to become one of the highest-grossing original sci-fi films of the decade.
What's Next for Tom Cruise and Mission: Impossible?
While Project Hail Mary celebrates, the future of the Mission: Impossible franchise remains uncertain. Despite being marketed as the final chapter, both Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie have moved on to other projects, leaving the door slightly ajar for a potential continuation. For now, though, the spotlight belongs to Gosling and his interstellar journey.
As Project Hail Mary continues its theatrical run, it's also expected to deliver huge numbers when it eventually lands on Prime Video — a win-win for Amazon MGM. For fans of smart, thrilling sci-fi, this is one mission you don't want to miss.
