Project Hail Mary Hit MGM+ Streaming — And the First Cut Was Almost 4 Hours Long

Project Hail Mary Just Hit Streaming — Here's Why You Should Drop Everything and Watch It

If you somehow missed Project Hail Mary during its massive theatrical run earlier this year, you're in luck. The sci-fi blockbuster starring Ryan Gosling officially landed on MGM+ on June 18, 2026 — and it's already becoming one of the most talked-about streaming events of the summer.

Based on Andy Weir's bestselling novel (the same genius behind The Martian and Artemis), Project Hail Mary follows schoolteacher-turned-astronaut Ryland Grace, who wakes up on a deep-space mission with no memory of how he got there. His task? Save Earth from an extinction-level threat. Alone. Except he's not — and that's where things get really interesting.

The Movie That Almost Ran 4 Hours

Here's a wild behind-the-scenes tidbit that dropped just this week: director Drew Goddard (The Cabin in the Woods, Daredevil) revealed that the first cut of Project Hail Mary was nearly four hours long. Test audiences gave pretty brutal feedback, prompting Goddard and his editing team to trim the film down to its tight final runtime of about two hours and twelve minutes.

"We had so much great stuff, but the movie was basically eating itself alive," Goddard reportedly said. "Every cut hurt, but the story deserved to breathe at the right pace." Gosling himself admitted that some of his favorite scenes — including extended sequences exploring Ryland Grace's relationship with Earth — ended up on the cutting room floor. Maybe we'll see them in a future director's cut.

Ryan Gosling, Rocky, and a Story That Made Audiences Cry

Let's talk about what makes this film special. Gosling delivers one of his most heartfelt performances as Ryland Grace — a guy who's equal parts terrified, determined, and genuinely funny. But the real showstopper? Rocky, an alien lifeform voiced by James Oritz, who becomes Grace's unlikely partner in the mission. Their chemistry is the emotional core of the entire movie, and yes, people are crying in theaters over a CGI spider creature. You've been warned.

The film opened on March 20, 2026 and quickly became one of the year's biggest box office successes, earning strong marks from critics and audiences alike. It landed on USA Today's list of the best movies of 2026 so far, sitting alongside other heavy hitters like Wuthering Heights and Disclosure Day.

Where to watch: Project Hail Mary is now streaming on MGM+ (available as a Prime Video add-on with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers). It's also available to rent or buy on digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu.

If you're looking for a sci-fi movie that's equal parts thrilling, funny, and genuinely moving — this is it. Trust me on this one. (And if you've already seen it, check out MGM+'s other sci-fi picks while you're there. The Interstellar re-watch never gets old.)