Project Hail Mary vs Forrest Gump: How Close Is Gosling’s Sci-Fi Epic to a Box Office Milestone?

May 21, 2026 user

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Ryan Gosling’s outer-space thriller Project Hail Mary continues to rake in millions as it nears Forrest Gump’s long-standing global box office mark. With nine weeks under its belt in North America and a steady international run, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel has become one of 2026’s biggest hits—even eclipsing The Martian. Now, the sci-fi spectacle is on the brink of overtaking the cherished Tom Hanks classic.

Current Box Office Figures

North America: $336.1 million
International: $333.2 million
Worldwide Total: $669.3 million

After opening to a robust $80.5 million domestically and adding another $4 million recently, Project Hail Mary holds the No. 6 spot among 2026 releases in North America. Globally, it’s currently the third-highest grosser of the year, trailing only a pair of surprise blockbusters.

Face-Off: Project Hail Mary vs Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump North America: $330.5 million
Forrest Gump International: $347.7 million
Forrest Gump Worldwide: $678.2 million

Though Gosling’s film has already outpaced Forrest Gump by $5.6 million on home turf, it still lags by around $8.9 million worldwide. With a few weeks left in theatres, every weekend hold and weekday showing will count in this high-stakes showdown.

Can It Top Forrest Gump?

Project Hail Mary’s momentum over the coming weekends will be crucial. If it maintains strong word-of-mouth and holds steady in key overseas markets, Gosling’s solo space mission could claim the crown. Given its current trajectory, industry watchers expect to know the outcome by early June.

About Project Hail Mary

Directed by the duo behind The Lego Movie, the film stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, a former teacher who awakens alone on a spacecraft with no memory of how he got there. Tasked with saving the Sun from a fatal energy drain, Grace must piece together his past and trust a surprising ally to rescue humanity.

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