Project Hail Mary (12A)

Blending big ideas with a refreshingly playful spirit, this ambitious space adventure mixes high-stakes science with a generous streak of humour.

When scientists discover that a mysterious microbe is slowly draining energy from the sun, project manager Eva (Sandra Hüller) recruits unassuming teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) to help prepare a desperate mission to save Earth. After awakening alone on a distant spacecraft with no memory of how he got there, Grace soon realises he isn’t the only one trying to solve the cosmic mystery. A nearby vessel carries a lone survivor from another world, a stone-like alien Grace affectionately names Rocky, and the two gradually learn to communicate.

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the story unfolds as a lively mix of inventive sci-fi spectacle and witty character moments. The tone is kept warm and inviting, turning complex astrophysics into an entertaining ride built around character, curiosity and an unlikely friendship. And at its heart lies the growing friendship between Gosling’s bewildered astronaut and his curious alien counterpart. Their teamwork, filled with jokes, discoveries and improvised science, powers a thrilling, imaginative adventure that proves even the vastness of space is better explored together.