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Box Office: ‘Project Hail Mary’ Makes $12 Million in Previews, Biggest of the Year So Far

What happened

Amazon MGM's sci-fi film 'Project Hail Mary,' starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, earned $12 million in preview screenings. This marks the biggest preview haul of the year so far, beating previous 2024 leader 'Scream 7' which made $7.8 million. The film is based on Andy Weir's popular novel and represents a rare non-franchise success story.

Why people care

Original sci-fi movies rarely dominate the box office anymore, with studios typically banking on sequels and established franchises. The strong preview performance suggests audiences are hungry for fresh, high-concept storytelling when executed well.

The takes

Industry optimists say

This proves there's still a massive appetite for original, intelligent sci-fi when it's backed by strong talent and source material. The preview numbers rival major franchise films and show that audiences will turn out for quality storytelling.

Industry skeptics say

Preview numbers don't always translate to sustained box office success, especially for sci-fi films that can be front-loaded with genre fans. The real test will be whether it can maintain momentum through its opening weekend and beyond.

Sources