Do you have the days until the movie Project Hail Mary hits the theaters on March 20, 2026? Ryan Gosling is the lead of this much-hyped sci-fi epic, which is expected to give a thrilling journey, space exploration, science problems, and a friendship with an alien ally. Yet why not jump into that world? Movies like Project Hail Mary can prep you for the adventure with their gripping stories and stunning visuals.
So, here is a list of 10 sci-fi movies you cannot miss out on that reflect its similarities in the themes of survival, discovery and human endurance, and these are all movies released prior to 2026 and are both box office and OTT blockbusters. These are the treasures of the film world! Let us have a look at them!
1. The Martian (2015)
CAST & CREW:- Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Directed by Ridley Scott, Written by Drew Goddard.
PLOT SUMMARY:- Astronaut (Damon) gets stuck on the Mars following a storm and has to stay alive with the help of his scientific background as NASA makes every effort to rescue him.
Why You Should Watch:- In case you enjoy the Project Hail Mary obsession with a single protagonist who solves science-related issues, this movie brings laughter and tears. With its 630 million dollar box office take, it has universal appeal.
Where to Watch:- Available on Disney+ and for rent on Amazon Prime.
2. Interstellar (2014)
Cast & Crew:- Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Directed by Christopher Nolan, Written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan.
Plot Summary:- A team of astronauts use a wormhole to find a new home to live in since the earth is becoming inhabitable.
Why You Should Watch:- It is highly emotional and armed with a plot of space travel, so it fits perfectly with such films as Project Hail Mary. It earned $677 million and it is a streaming hit.
Where to Watch:- Stream on Netflix or rent on YouTube.
3. Gravity (2013)
Cast & Crew:- Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Written by Cuarón and Jonás Cuarón.
Plot Summary:– An astronaut (Bullock) struggles to stay alive when her shuttle is destroyed leaving her floating in the unknown.
Why You Should Watch:- The compelling tale of survival and impressive visuals are similar to such films as Project Hail Mary, so it is worth watching. It made 723 million across the world.
Where to Watch:- Available on Max and for rent on Google Play.
4. Arrival (2016)
Cast & Crew:- Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Written by Eric Heisserer.
Plot Summary:- A linguist (Adams) struggles to make aliens understand him in order to avoid a crisis that will erupt all over the world once aliens land on earth.
Why You Should Watch:- The G-man and the alien interaction and intellectual challenge are similar to the Ryland-Rocky interaction in Project Hail Mary. It earned 203 million dollars and is a streaming success.
Where to Watch:- Stream on Paramount+ or rent on Apple TV.
5. Apollo 13 (1995)
CAST & CREW:- Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Directed by Ron Howard, Written by William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert.
PLOT SUMMARY:- A NASA mission turns bad and the crew has to deal with technical failures to get back safely to the earth.
Why You Should Watch:- Its theme of teamwork and problem-solving reflects other similar movies such as Project Hail Mary scientific theme. It received 355 million dollars and it is a classic.
Where to Watch:- Available on HBO Max and for rent on Amazon Prime.
6. Ad Astra (2019)
CAST & CREW:- Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Directed by James Gray, Written by Gray and Ethan Gross.
PLOT SUMMARY:- An astronaut (Pitt) travels to Neptune to search his lost father and discovers a universal menace.
Why You Should Watch:– The single space adventure and heart presence are in line with such movies as Project Hail Mary. It earned 135 million dollars and became popular among OTT.
Where to Watch:- Stream on Hulu or rent on Vudu.
7. Contact (1997)
CAST & CREW:- Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Written by James V. Hart and Michael Goldenberg.
PLOT SUMMARY:- A researcher (Foster) picks up a signal of some aliens and organizes an expedition to meet them.
Why You Should Watch:- The science-fiction interest and the alien experience are comparable to the atmosphere of such movies as Project Hail Mary. It earned 171 million dollars and is a streaming hit.
Where to Watch: Available on Starz and for rent on Microsoft Store.
8. The Abyss (1989)
Cast & Crew: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Directed by James Cameron, Written by Cameron.
PLOT SUMMARY:- On its way to a sunken sub, a deep-sea drilling crew discovers an alien being.
Why You Should Watch:- The theme of human-alien bond and survival is also related to such movies as Project Hail Mary. It made 90 million dollars (a huge success at that time) and is an OTT classic.
Where to Watch: Stream on Peacock or rent on YouTube.
9. Passengers (2016)
Cast & Crew: Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence, Directed by Morten Tyldum, Written by Jon Spaihts.
PLOT SUMMARY:- Two passengers on a spaceship wake up prematurely and have to deal with a life and death scenario.
Why You Should Watch:- The solitude and the sudden friendship can be seen in such movies as the story of Project Hail Mary. It earned 303 Million dollars and is in demand on OTT.
Where to Watch: Available on MGM+ and for rent on Google Play.
10. Annihilation (2018)
Cast & Crew: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Directed by Alex Garland, Written by Garland.
PLOT SUMMARY:- Biologist (Portman) heads an expedition into a mysterious zone in search of answers to the secrets of the zone after the husband returns.
Why You Should Watch:- Biologist (Portman) heads an expedition into a mysterious zone in search of answers to the secrets of the zone after the husband returns.
Where to Watch: Stream on Netflix or rent on Apple TV.
Why Watch Movies Like Project Hail Mary Before 2026?
These are not only entertaining movies, but they also are an overview of the themes that Project Hail Mary is going to be memorable about. The scientific cleverness of The Martian to the extraterrestrial friendship of Arrival, every film creates a suspense of Ryan Gosling and his solitary mission and his friendship with Rocky. These hits have a combined box office gross of more than 3 billion dollars showing that they are here to stay both in the theatres and on the streaming platforms.
Conclusion
As the Project Hail Mary prepares to be released in 2026, watching movies such as Project Hail Mary will make you more excited and more appreciative. These 10 movies are a flawless combination of action, science and emotion, to prepare you to see the IMAX experience. Therefore, put your popcorn and start streaming some of these jewels, and we can countdown to March 20, 2026, together!
