Warning: Spoilers ahead for Project Hail Mary.
Ken and Barbie. Sebastian and Mia. March and Healy. Ryan Gosling has been part of memorable on-screen duos, and he’s found his next great scene partner — a faceless, rock-like alien.
Gosling’s dynamic with the aforementioned creature, aptly nicknamed Rocky, is at the center of his latest movie, Project Hail Mary, based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name. The film adaptation, co-directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, follows Ryland Grace (Gosling), a middle school science teacher whose degree in molecular biology attracts the attention of scientists trying to prevent the Earth from going extinct in 30 years.
It’s a movie full of hope and heart, and Gosling’s ability to have chemistry with everyone and anyone, including an alien, reinforces his status as one of Hollywood’s most compelling and enjoyable actors to watch on screen.
Gosling’s Charisma Sells The Dynamic Between Ryland And Rocky, Giving Audiences A Duo Worth Rooting For
Rocky, a five-legged alien, in “Project Hail Mary.”
Amazon MGM Studios
The premise of Project Hail Mary is science-heavy but still digestible for the average viewer: An alien microbe called astrophage is infecting and dimming stars, including the sun, and Earth is in jeopardy of extinction.
Ryland becomes the world’s leading authority on astrophage duplication and, against his will, is sent to space to investigate why one star, named Tau Ceti, seems resistant to the infection and isn’t dying. The catch is that there isn’t enough fuel for a round-trip, meaning the three people sent on the mission (the pilot, the engineer and the scientist) will die in space. So, Ryland could die in space while trying to find a solution, or do nothing and die on Earth in 30 years, when the planet completely freezes.
The movie alternates between the present and the past, showing Ryland aboard the lightspeed spaceship and explaining how he got roped into Project Hail Mary through Eva Stratt (a phenomenal Sandra Hüller), the head of the project.
Gosling doesn’t dim his signature charisma to play the awkward, brainy, risk-averse underdog at the center of Project Hail Mary. Instead, he dials it up, leaning into his comedic timing and embracing the physical comedy.
When Ryland wakes up on the ship and learns that he’s the only survivor of his crew, he must problem-solve on his own. In those scenes, Project Hail Mary feels like a one-man show, and Gosling rises to the occasion. In less capable hands, Ryland’s solo scenes on the ship, like when he clumsily tries to get dressed for a space walk in zero gravity or when he films video diaries to send to Earth later on, may not be as enthralling or entertaining.
Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in “Project Hail Mary.”
Jonathan Olley/Amazon MGM Studios
Ryland embarks on this suicide mission with no self-belief, but by the end, he becomes a full-fledged hero through his unlikely friendship with Rocky, a five-legged alien who’s trying to save his own planet from extinction.
Once Rocky enters the picture, Project Hail Mary morphs into a delightful buddy comedy.
Rocky, a skilled engineer and the only survivor of his Eridian crew, is Ryland’s sole companion in space. Ryland and Rocky form a brotherly bond, and the film’s most emotional moments — like when Rocky breaks out of his ball so he can rescue Ryland when a risky plan goes awry or when Ryland turns his ship around and saves Rocky instead of returning home — are sure to pull at viewers’ heartstrings.
It’s a testament to Gosling’s skill set that he can portray the pair’s dynamic with sincerity, and confidently hit the film’s dramatic and comedic beats while acting opposite a practical puppet (manned by lead puppeteer James Ortiz, who also provides Rocky’s human voice).
‘Project Hail Mary’ Is Gosling’s Highest-Rated Movie On Rotten Tomatoes And Opened With Stellar Box Office Numbers
Rocky and Ryland (played by Ryan Gosling) in “Project Hail Mary.”
Amazon MGM Studios
Can Gosling make a movie in which his primary scene partner is a faceless alien captivating? The answer is a resounding “yes” from critics.
With a 95% critics’ score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Project Hail Mary currently stands as Gosling’s highest-rated project. The sci-fi movie joins the ranks of his most critically-acclaimed films: Drive (93%), La La Land (91%), The Nice Guys (91%), Half Nelson (91%), The Big Short (89%), Barbie (88%), Blade Runner 2049 (88%), First Man (87%) and Blue Valentine (87%).
It’s not just critics who are supporting Gosling’s latest film. Project Hail Mary also boasts a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, earned $80.5 million at the domestic box office and surpassed predictions, amassing $140.9 million globally. The film earned the biggest domestic opening of 2026 and dethroned Creed III as Amazon MGM Studios’ biggest opening yet.
It’s a massive win for creatives fighting to keep theaters alive, and also a huge confidence boost for Amazon MGM Studios, whose 2026 film slate thus far includes the poorly received documentary Melania.
If Project Hail Mary continues to be embraced by critics and audiences worldwide, the sci-fi adventure could put Gosling in Oscar contention, just as his roles in Half Nelson, La La Land and Barbie did. Even if he’s overlooked in the Best Actor category, Project Hail Mary could still snag nominations for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound and maybe even Best Picture, if nominating committees embrace a heartfelt film about unlikely space companions trying to save their planets from extinction.
Project Hail Mary is playing in theaters.