Sign In / Register
5 Movies to Watch If You Loved Project Hail Mary
If you loved Project Hail Mary and you're wondering what to watch next, you're in the right place. From science-led survival stories to first-contact adventures, there are plenty of movies that capture some of the same ideas that make Project Hail Mary so compelling.
Based on the bestselling novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary follows Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, who wakes aboard a spacecraft far from Earth with no memory of how he got there.
As Grace gradually discovers the reason for his mission, the story becomes a mix of space survival, scientific problem-solving, first contact, humour and friendship. If those were the parts you enjoyed most, these five movies should be next on your watch list.
Our top five movies to watch after Project Hail Mary are The Martian, Interstellar, Arrival, Moon and Apollo 13.
Shop Project Hail Mary at Sanity →
Why Project Hail Mary Works So Well
Project Hail Mary isn't simply a movie about travelling through space. Its appeal comes from combining several different kinds of science-fiction storytelling into one adventure.
- Scientific problem-solving: Ryland Grace has to use experimentation, logic and science to solve seemingly impossible problems.
- Survival in space: when you're light-years from Earth, even a small problem can become life-threatening.
- First contact: discovering intelligent extraterrestrial life becomes an important part of Grace's journey.
- Friendship and communication: underneath the science is an emotional story about cooperation and connection.
- Saving humanity: the fate of Earth rests on solving a scientific mystery on an enormous scale.
Each of the movies below shares at least one of these elements, making them great choices if you're searching for movies similar to Project Hail Mary.
1. The Martian
If you only watch one movie after Project Hail Mary, make it The Martian.
There's an obvious connection between the two stories: both The Martian and Project Hail Mary originated as novels by Andy Weir.
Matt Damon stars as astronaut Mark Watney, who is accidentally left behind on Mars after the rest of his crew believes he has died. With limited supplies and no immediate way home, Watney has to rely on science, engineering and a lot of ingenuity to survive.
Where many survival movies rely heavily on action, The Martian makes calculations, experiments and creative problem-solving exciting. Watching Watney work through one problem after another gives the movie the same kind of science-led momentum that makes Project Hail Mary so entertaining.
There's also plenty of humour along the way, helping balance the very real danger facing its isolated protagonist.
Watch The Martian if you loved: the science, humour, survival problems and Andy Weir's style of storytelling.
2. Interstellar
If the enormous scale of Project Hail Mary was what grabbed you, Interstellar is the movie to watch next.
Christopher Nolan's science-fiction epic begins with humanity facing an increasingly uncertain future on Earth. A team of explorers is sent through a wormhole to search for another world capable of supporting human life.
Matthew McConaughey stars as Cooper, a former NASA pilot who leaves his family behind to join the mission. What follows combines theoretical science, enormous cosmic ideas and deeply personal emotional stakes.
Like Project Hail Mary, Interstellar asks what people might be willing to sacrifice when the survival of humanity is at stake.
Both movies also make scientific concepts a central part of the storytelling rather than simply using space as a backdrop.
Watch Interstellar if you loved: epic space exploration, big scientific ideas and the emotional side of Project Hail Mary.
3. Arrival
If the first-contact side of Project Hail Mary was your favourite part, Arrival should be near the top of your list.
Amy Adams stars as linguist Louise Banks, who is recruited after mysterious extraterrestrial spacecraft appear around the world.
Rather than immediately treating the visitors as an enemy, Louise attempts something much more difficult: learning how to communicate with an intelligent species that experiences the world in a completely different way.
That makes Arrival one of the most thoughtful first-contact movies in modern science fiction.
Like Project Hail Mary, progress comes through curiosity, communication, observation and cooperation rather than simply fighting an alien threat.
It is quieter and more contemplative than Project Hail Mary, but it shares the same fascination with what might happen when two intelligent species have to find a way to understand one another.
Watch Arrival if you loved: first contact, communication, intelligence and emotional science fiction.
4. Moon
Moon takes the isolation and mystery of being alone in space and turns it into a smaller, stranger and more psychological science-fiction story.
Sam Rockwell plays Sam Bell, an astronaut approaching the end of a three-year assignment working largely alone on the Moon. His main companion is an artificial intelligence called GERTY.
As his return to Earth gets closer, strange events begin forcing Sam to question what is really happening around him.
It's much more intimate than Project Hail Mary, but the two movies share the unsettling concept of being incredibly far from Earth while gradually uncovering the truth about your circumstances.
If you enjoyed watching Ryland Grace piece together his situation and work out why he was sent into space, Moon offers a fascinating variation on that idea.
Watch Moon if you loved: isolation, mystery, memory and discovering the truth behind a space mission.
5. Apollo 13
Apollo 13 isn't science fiction at all, which is exactly why it deserves a place on this list.
Ron Howard's movie tells the true story of the Apollo 13 mission and the extraordinary effort required to bring its astronauts safely back to Earth after an explosion severely damages their spacecraft.
Tom Hanks stars as astronaut Jim Lovell as both the crew and NASA engineers on Earth attempt to improvise solutions with limited time, equipment and resources.
Few movies make engineering and problem-solving this suspenseful. Every calculation matters. Every resource is limited. Every solution creates another problem that has to be overcome.
That's why Apollo 13 makes such a strong companion to Project Hail Mary. Both turn scientific problem-solving into genuinely gripping entertainment.
Watch Apollo 13 if you loved: problem-solving under pressure, survival in space and ingenious scientific solutions.
Which Movie Should You Watch After Project Hail Mary?
The best movie to watch next depends on exactly what you enjoyed most about Project Hail Mary.
- If you loved science-based survival and problem-solving, watch The Martian.
- If you loved epic space exploration, watch Interstellar.
- If you loved first contact and communication, watch Arrival.
- If you loved isolation, memory and mystery, watch Moon.
- If you loved scientific problem-solving under pressure, watch Apollo 13.
More Movies for Project Hail Mary Fans
Great science fiction doesn't necessarily need endless explosions or enormous alien battles. Some of the genre's best stories begin with a question, a scientific problem or an impossible situation that needs to be solved.
That's part of what makes Project Hail Mary so much fun. It combines the scale of an interstellar adventure with the satisfaction of watching someone think their way through problem after problem.
If that's what you're looking for next, start with The Martian. If you want something bigger, try Interstellar. For first contact, choose Arrival. For isolation and mystery, watch Moon. And if you want proof that real-life space survival can be every bit as gripping as fiction, put Apollo 13 on your list.
Explore more movies at Sanity →
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies are similar to Project Hail Mary?
Five of the best movies to watch after Project Hail Mary are The Martian, Interstellar, Arrival, Moon and Apollo 13. They share themes including space survival, scientific problem-solving, first contact, isolation and humanity facing extraordinary challenges.
What should I watch after Project Hail Mary?
The Martian is our top recommendation if you want something closest to Project Hail Mary. Both originated as novels written by Andy Weir and feature isolated protagonists using science, experimentation and ingenuity to survive extraordinary situations.
Is The Martian similar to Project Hail Mary?
Yes. The Martian and Project Hail Mary are both based on books by Andy Weir. Both stories combine survival, scientific problem-solving, humour and an isolated protagonist facing seemingly impossible circumstances.
What should I watch if I liked the first-contact story in Project Hail Mary?
Arrival is an excellent choice. It approaches first contact differently, but both stories explore communication and cooperation between humans and intelligent extraterrestrial life. In both cases, understanding something unfamiliar is more important than simply fighting it.
What should I watch if I liked the science in Project Hail Mary?
The Martian is the strongest fictional recommendation if you enjoyed the scientific problem-solving in Project Hail Mary. Apollo 13 is another excellent option because its true story revolves around engineering, calculations, improvisation and solving problems in space.
What are some good realistic space movies?
The Martian, Apollo 13 and Interstellar are strong choices for viewers who enjoy space movies where science plays a major role in the story. Apollo 13 is based on the real NASA mission, while The Martian uses realistic scientific problem-solving as a major part of its fictional survival story.
Find Your Next Sci-Fi Movie at Sanity
Whether you're looking for another Andy Weir story, an enormous journey across the universe, an intelligent first-contact movie or a gripping space-survival story, there are plenty of movies worth watching after Project Hail Mary.
