Project Hail Mary Soundtrack Unveiled: Every Song in the Sci-Fi Epic

Here we go again: another much-hyped sci-fi book adaptation has hit theaters, and this one is making actual waves. Project Hail Mary—based on Andy Weir's (aka the The Martian guy) best-seller—is finally on the big screen, with Ryan Gosling in the pilot seat. If you've read the book, you already know it's part space survival thriller, part buddy comedy, and part science lesson your high school teacher could only dream about pulling off. Now the film is here, courtesy of directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (yes, the Lego Movie duo—an unexpected choice, honestly, but it works), and people are not just buzzing about the movie itself, but also about the soundtrack.

The music's not just background noise this time; it's apparently a key ingredient in selling the 'one man lost in the cosmic void' vibe. And the tracklist is surprisingly eclectic—think space tangos, karaoke versions of '90s rock ballads, and some Kris Kristofferson thrown in for good measure.

So What Actually Made the Cut?

If you're the kind of person who zeroes in on which song played over the emotional montage, or you just want to know if The Beatles made an appearance (spoiler: kind of), here's the full rundown of every track that pops up in Project Hail Mary—somehow all these songs made their way into a story about a high school science teacher saving the sun. This is an official list, straight from the movie, including a few curveballs:

• "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" – Written and performed by Kris Kristofferson
• "Pata Pata" – Written by Miriam Makeba & Jerry Ragovoy, performed by Miriam Makeba
• "El Amanecer" – Written by Roberto Firpo, performed by Carlos Di Sarli y su Orquesta Típica
• "Theme From Close Encounters of the Third Kind" – Composed by John Williams
• "Rainbows" – Written by Stephen Kalinich, Carl Wilson & Dennis Wilson, performed by Dennis Wilson
• "The Final Bell" – Briefly heard in a clip from Rocky (1976), composed by Bill Conti
• "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" – Karaoke version (originally Ella Fitzgerald), written by George & Ira Gershwin
• "Wind of Change" – Karaoke version, originally performed by Scorpions
• "Sign of the Times" – Karaoke version, originally performed by Harry Styles, written by, well, basically half the songwriting population of L.A.; this one is actually performed on screen by Sandra Hüller as 'Stradt'
• "Po Atarau" – Written by Maewa Kaihan, Clement Scott & Dorothy Stewart, performed by the Turakina Maori Girls' Choir
• "Gracias A La Vida" – Written by Violeta Parra Sandoval, performed by Mercedes Sosa
• "Two Of Us" – Written by Lennon & McCartney, performed by The Beatles; fun fact: it's in the movie, but not included on the official soundtrack album (because Beatles licensing is a labyrinth)
• "Stargazer" – Written and performed by Neil Diamond
• "Glory, Glory" – Written by Ike Turner, performed by Ike & Tina Turner

Wait, Karaoke Versions?

Yup, you read that right. A couple of those big-name tracks come in karaoke form—so instead of Freddie Mercury-level vocals, you might get characters awkwardly singing along. This isn't me editorializing, that is literally how it plays on screen. Sandra Hüller, for example, turns in a version of 'Sign of the Times' as her character Stradt, which is probably a sentence you never thought you'd read in a space epic context.

Who Else is in This Thing?

It can't all be the Ryan Gosling Show. The cast also features Sandra Hüller (see previous karaoke mention), James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, and Milana Vayntrub, among others. That's a pretty solid, if not obvious, supporting lineup.

Release and Plot (in 15 Seconds)

Project Hail Mary landed in theaters March 20, 2026. The plot: Ryland Grace, a regular science teacher (played by Gosling, because of course), wakes up alone—really alone, we're talking 'deep space' alone—and discovers he's humanity's last shot at stopping the sun from burning out. No pressure. Yes, it's loaded with science, but also emotion and a lot more jokes than you'd expect.

'The atmospheric soundtrack of Project Hail Mary is already gaining buzz for beautifully reflecting the solitude and awe of deep space, making many wonder which songs are a part of the movie.'

If you want a sci-fi flick with some actual personality (and apparently, top-shelf taste in music), this might be the one to watch—or at least to listen to.