Amazon MGM released Project Hail Mary on a Friday, and the film earned $14.6 million that day. Industry analysts now expect the movie to bring in $53 million during its second weekend. That figure would lift the ten‑day domestic total to about $163 million.
How It Stacks Up Against Other 2024 Sci-Fi Movies
For comparison, the 2024 sci-fi hit Dune Part Two earned $46.2 million in its second weekend and reached a two‑weekend total of $157.2 million. If Project Hail Mary holds steady in April, it could match or beat the $282 million domestic run of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune.
Why Audiences Love Project Hail Mary
Fans praise Ryan Gosling’s performance for its energy and humor. They also love the deep space visuals that fill the biggest screens. Word of mouth spreads quickly, and the positive buzz drives more ticket sales each day.
Project Hail Mary lifts overall box office numbers for the weekend to an estimated $96 million. The strong showing helps Amazon record a solid first quarter of 2026. The studio hopes the film will become its biggest theatrical hit ever as it moves into full time distribution.
Other Films Sharing the Spotlight
Disney Pixar Hoppers holds well in its fourth weekend with an estimated $11 million, bringing its domestic total to $136 million. The Indian import Dhurandhar The Revenge makes $4.8 million for a two‑weekend total of $22.8 million, surpassing last year’s first Dhurandhar total.
Films Facing a Tougher Market
Warner Bros. released They Will Kill You and earned $2.2 million on opening day from 2,778 locations. Early estimates put the opening at $4.6 million, tying it with the third weekend of Universal Reminders of Him. Critics gave the thriller mixed reviews, with a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a B‑ on CinemaScore. The film will need to control costs to earn a modest profit against its $20 million budget.
Overall, the strong Project Hail Mary box office performance highlights the power of good storytelling and strong lead acting. It also shows how much Amazon’s film distribution can compete with long‑standing studios.
Source: The Wrap
