Project Hail Mary Poised to Overtake Henry Cavill's Sci-Fi Blockbuster at the Box Office

Right, time for a quick update from the world of big-budget, people-in-space, trying-not-to-die cinema. 'Project Hail Mary' – the new Ryan Gosling space odyssey no one really saw coming – is powering its way up the all-time box office chart, and about to muscle past a certain cape-wearing, moody bloke you might remember.

Gosling in Space… and the Other Bloke from Krypton

So, here's where things get a bit fun. Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a humble school teacher who wakes up (as you do) alone on a spaceship, memory shot to bits, only to discover he’s supposed to save the entire human race. It's basically GCSE teacher to planetary saviour, in one sleep cycle. And before you ask: yes, the film's directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the chaps responsible for 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse'.

But the real headline today isn't just that Gosling’s sweating in a tin can somewhere above Earth – it's that 'Project Hail Mary' is nipping at the heels of 'Man of Steel', the 2013 film that pretty much launched Henry Cavill into both the DCEU and the hearts (or not) of comic book fans globally.

Box Office: Neck and Neck

If you’re into ballpark figures, as of now, both films are pegged at the $670 million mark worldwide. Yes, both. But if you want the granular stuff, here's how it plays out:

• 'Project Hail Mary': $670,096,401
• 'Man of Steel': $670,145,518

That’s a difference of less than $50,000 – pocket change for Hollywood. And considering 'Project Hail Mary' is still floating about in cinemas, it’s almost certain to overtake Cavill and co. by the next box office update. At this point, it might already have done it before you finish your cuppa.

But Is 'Man of Steel' Even Sci-Fi?

Now, I know some superhero purists will jump in here with “Oi, isn’t 'Man of Steel' just a superhero flick?” Technically, sure. But let’s not get bogged down: you've got aliens, spaceships, planets getting terraformed, humanity on the brink. Strip away the DC branding and capes, and it's pure sci-fi mayhem – probably more so than actually watching Gosling do maths alone in a spacecraft.

'Project Hail Mary': This Year’s Sci-Fi King

Let’s talk bragging rights. Since opening on 20 March, 'Project Hail Mary' has been sticking around near the top of the box office every single week – no small feat, seeing as it’s had to compete with everything from 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' to that Michael Jackson biopic, 'Michael'.

If you’re keeping score at home, 'Project Hail Mary' is currently the third biggest film of 2026, just behind 'Michael' (over $730 million) and the frankly absurd success story that is 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie', which is about to lap everyone with a cool $970 million.

Streaming: You’ll Have to Wait Your Turn

Just in case you’re one of those “I’ll wait for streaming” types: 'Project Hail Mary' only just hit VOD, so you won’t see it turn up on your regular streaming services for a while. The typical wait is five months after cinemas get bored of it. Since it’s an Amazon MGM Studios release, safe bet is it’ll be appearing on Prime Video. But if anyone at Amazon has actually confirmed this, I haven’t heard it.

Cast & Crew

The project stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, with Lord & Miller at the helm as directors, bringing their animated-influenced touch to proper live-action sci-fi. No word yet if they’ve managed to sneak a Lego cameo into this one, but stranger things have happened.

All told, 'Project Hail Mary' is giving us the sort of space-based, hopeful sci-fi we haven’t really seen in a while – and it’s clearly struck a chord, with the box office receipts to prove it. Whether you’re team Superman or team gormless-science-teacher-in-peril, you have to admit: it’s not a bad problem for sci-fi fans to have.