The last time Phil Lord and Christopher Miller tried exploring the final frontier, they didn’t quite reach the stars. Originally hired to direct Solo: A Star Wars Story, the 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie duo was let go due to behind-the-scenes drama and conflicting creative visions, marking a long hiatus since they last helmed a live-action project. Thankfully, Project Hail Mary is a worthy addition to Lord and Miller’s resume, sending viewers on a rollicking, emotionally charged journey that captures the wonder, danger, and unexpected friendships one might find while exploring the cosmos—particularly when the fate of several worlds is at stake.

Even more noteworthy is how straightforward this film is, sidestepping the meta-ironic comedy that traditionally defines Lord and Miller’s brand of storytelling. True, this adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 sci-fi novel pays homage to classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Interstellar, even casting First Man star Ryan Gosling in the lead role. But Project Hail Mary stands on its own as a great sci-fi adventure, drawing viewers into its protagonist’s mission and making them fall head over heels for his alien companion on a level not seen since Baby Yoda.

Our hero, Ryland Grace, wakes up on a spacecraft with no memory of how he got there. Based on his calculations, he deduces that he’s been in stasis for over 12 years, but the circumstances behind his situation are gradually revealed via flashbacks. A former molecular biologist-turned-middle school science teacher, Ryland is one of billions living on Earth at a time when the sun is dying at an accelerated pace. His unorthodox background, however, intrigues government agent Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller), who recruits Ryland to analyze a collection of cells from another world. The properties of these cells have been discovered in other fading stars across the galaxy; one star resistant to their effects, Tau Ceti, might provide the key to humanity’s survival.

To discover Tau Ceti’s mysteries, three astronauts venture to that far-off location to relay their data to Earth, knowing all too well this is a one-way journey. Yet, along with partial amnesia, Ryland finds his compatriots dead aboard the Hail Mary, leaving him to make the journey solo. Or so he thinks. En route to the star, Ryland discovers an alien spacecraft whose lone survivor, a spidery, rock-like creature he names Rocky, is trying to save his home planet as well. The two quickly become scientific buddies and, over time, best friends, pooling resources and spending time on the Hail Mary as they attempt to solve the dying sun problem together.

Despite knowing the outcome will be devastating for both planets if Ryland and Rocky fail, Project Hail Mary finds plenty of joy and entertainment in their friendship. It helps that Rocky is one of the best new sci-fi creatures to grace the screen in years. Gosling is a talented enough performer to carry an entire movie in space alone but partnering him with this charming alien (puppeteered and voiced by James Ortiz) gives the movie its heart. Rocky feels alive in his movements, behavioral tics, and offbeat humor, with the best jokes stemming from his matter-of-fact remarks and gradual comprehension of Earth-bound humor. The movie does a great job portraying the evolution of this bond, and while it throws a few predictable curveballs, you’ll believe their friendship enough to make the emotional moments hit hard.

Much like in the adaptation of Weir’s The Martian, Project Hail Mary makes the grounded pre-space flashbacks feel essential. Watching the scientists and astronauts grapple with the existential threat hammers home the necessity of Ryland’s assignment, and the reveal of how he became part of that mission is a shocking one. However, the plot doesn’t always leave Hüller much to do—and reduces Ken Leung and Milana Vayntrub to bit parts as the doomed astronauts—though their interactions with Ryland highlight how ordinary he feels among big-budget sci-fi protagonists. Of all the humans to save the world and make first contact with alien life, this guy’s brainy ordinariness reflects humanity at its best.

Even if this movie pulls from several clear sources, Lord and Miller give their adventure a freshness that warrants a multi-viewing experience. The space scenes expertly blend awe, danger, and even some playful humor that showcases the wonder of space travel, particularly during one scene that feels like an updated take on 2001’s Stargate sequence. This is followed by a thrilling heist sequence atop the Hail Mary that only grows more daunting as new obstacles pile up, to the point that it will leave the audience speechless. The physical stakes are clear, but the emotional stakes are even higher, and that’s when you know Project Hail Mary has you hooked. This is without a doubt the first hit of 2026.