Project Hail Mary, the sci-fi adaptation of Andy Weir's novel directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, has become the defining film of 2026 so far. The film has successfully transitioned to streaming, now ranking ninth on the Prime Video top ten in the United States, demonstrating its continued appeal to audiences. It faces upcoming competition from Dune: Part Three, which releases on 18 December 2026 on the same date as Avengers: Doomsday.

Project Hail Mary has achieved substantial commercial and critical success, earning $682 million worldwide, comprising $344 million domestically and $338 million internationally. Critics praised the film highly, with Collider's Ross Bonaime awarding it 9/10 and naming it "the first great film of 2026." Following his performance in the film, star Ryan Gosling is set to appear in director Shawn Levy's upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter and a new Ghost Rider film for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.