Since closing the MGM deal, which handed Amazon control of film franchises including James Bond and The Pink Panther, the e-commerce conglomerate has pledged to release more than a dozen pictures in cinemas annually before making them available on its Prime Video streaming service.
Project Hail Mary, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is adapted from the novel of the same name by Andy Weir. It follows the adventure of biologist-turned-teacher-turned-astronaut Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, who wakes up with amnesia aboard a spacecraft.
The film achieved critical acclaim, and its commercial performance ends a string of low box-office hauls for Amazon this year on titles such as Mercy and Crime 101.
Before Project Hail Mary, the best debut of 2026 was Scream 7. The movie, released in February, has since sold $193.8 million worth of cinema tickets, becoming the highest grossing picture in the horror franchise’s history.
The debut of Hoppers earlier in March was also the best for an original Pixar film in a decade.
