Ryan Gosling's Project Hail Mary Dominates Box Office Amidst Indian Film Success
Project Hail Mary Takes the Lead
Amazon MGM Studio's Project Hail Mary, featuring Ryan Gosling, is poised to make a significant impact at the Hollywood box office, mirroring the success of Dhurandhar: The Revenge in India. Co-directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the film debuted at the top of the box office on Friday, May 20, grossing $33.1 million in the United States. Analysts predict that this sci-fi thriller could surpass $70 million by the end of the weekend. The film's opening day performance exceeded expectations, with $33 million, compared to Andy Weir's previous adaptation, The Martian, which earned $18.1 million on its first day in 2015.
Record-Breaking Opening for Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary is the Biggest Opener of 2026
The film has achieved a remarkable $33.1 million from 4,007 locations on its opening day in the US. It has shattered multiple records, surpassing Oppenheimer's $33 million for the largest opening day for any non-franchise film. Additionally, Project Hail Mary has become Amazon MGM's highest-grossing opener, overtaking Creed 3's $22.1 million. In 2026, it has outperformed Scream 7's $29.4 million, marking the biggest opening of the year, and matched Logan's $33 million for the largest March debut.
Positive Reception and Global Performance
With strong word-of-mouth and an impressive 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Project Hail Mary is projected to reach approximately $77 million during its opening weekend. Based on Weir's 2021 novel, the film was produced with a budget of $200 million. Gosling portrays Ryland Grace, a school teacher who awakens on a spaceship with no recollection of how he arrived there, far from Earth. The cast also includes Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Milana Vayntrub, Ken Leung, and Liz Kingsman.
Box Office Performance in China
Project Hail Mary Shines in China
In the Chinese market, Project Hail Mary is performing admirably, outpacing another Ryan Gosling film, Barbie, in pre-sales. With limited screenings totaling 24,000, it has grossed $1.2 million at the Chinese box office. The film earned $695,000 on Friday, $470,000 on Saturday, and $114,000 on Sunday, with expectations of collecting between $6 to $9 million during its opening weekend in China. This could elevate its global earnings to around $100 million. In India, Project Hail Mary is set to premiere on March 26 to avoid competing with Dhurandhar 2.
Dhurandhar 2's Performance in the US
Dhurandhar 2's Box Office Results
Dhurandhar: The Revenge, featuring Ranveer Singh, debuted in fourth place in the US, earning $3 million on Friday from just 987 theaters. By Saturday, it had already accumulated $10 million, positioning it for a potentially historic opening weekend for an Indian film in the US.