Amazon MGM has a real one on its hands. Project Hail Mary launched to an impressive $80.6 million opening weekend, landing at No. 1 and delivering one of the strongest debuts ever for a non-franchise film. It trails only Oppenheimer in that category and signals that audiences are still showing up for original, big-swing storytelling.
The sci-fi adaptation of Andy Weir’s bestselling novel follows a middle school teacher turned unlikely astronaut on a last-ditch mission to save humanity. Anchored by Ryan Gosling and backed by a powerhouse creative team including Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the film blends humor, emotion and hard science in a way that is clearly connecting with audiences. Strong reviews and near-universal audience approval are only adding fuel to its trajectory.
The bigger story here is what it means for Amazon MGM. With a reported $200 million budget, the film needs to play globally, but this kind of opening puts it firmly on the path. More importantly, it reinforces Amazon’s commitment to theatrical releases as part of a broader strategy, not just a streaming afterthought.
Overall, the weekend box office hit $142 million, up 88 percent from the same frame last year, continuing a strong run for 2026. The first quarter is now pacing 17 percent ahead of 2025, with momentum clearly building.
In second place, Pixar’s Hoppers continues to show serious legs. The animated original added another $18 million domestically, pushing its global total to $242.6 million. Even more impressive, weekday numbers actually increased in its second week, a rare feat driven in part by spring break audiences. The film is trending toward a multiple well above typical animated releases, signaling strong word of mouth and sustained family turnout.
Third place went to Dhurandhar The Revenge, an Indian action sequel that opened to $10 million in North America. While its reach remains largely tied to diaspora audiences, the film’s performance highlights the growing influence of global cinema in the domestic marketplace. Its per-capita spending among Indian audiences significantly outpaced the weekend’s top film, underscoring just how targeted and passionate that audience is.
Searchlight’s Ready or Not 2: Here I Come debuted in fourth with $9.1 million. The sequel builds on the cult success of the 2019 original, bringing back its creative team and star Samara Weaving. With a modest $10 million budget, the film is already positioned to turn a profit and potentially extend the franchise further.
Rounding out the top five, Reminders of Him dropped to fifth in its second weekend with $8 million, down 56 percent. The Colleen Hoover adaptation has now reached $33.2 million domestically, but its sharp decline raises questions about potential fatigue as multiple Hoover-based projects hit theaters in close succession.
Zoom out and the takeaway is clear. Original films are working, family titles are holding, and niche global releases are carving out meaningful space. For an industry that’s been chasing certainty, this weekend offered something better momentum.
Weekend Box Office 3/20–3/22
Courtesy of Comscore
| Rank | Title | Wk | Theatres | Weekend | % Change | Average/Theatre | Total |
| 1 | Project Hail Mary (Amazon MGM) | 1 | 4,007 | $80,583,746 | – | $20,111 | $80,583,746 |
| 2 | Hoppers (Disney/Pixar) | 3 | 3,675 | $18,000,000 | -37 | $4,898 | $120,386,869 |
| 3 | Dhurandhar The Revenge (Moviegoers) | 1 | 987 | $10,048,654 | – | $10,181 | $14,026,138 |
| 4 | Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (Searchlight) | 1 | 3,010 | $9,100,000 | – | $3,023 | $9,100,000 |
| 5 | Reminders of Him (Universal) | 2 | 3,441 | $8,000,000 | -56 | $2,325 | $33,174,000 |
| 6 | Scream 7 (Paramount) | 4 | 2,560 | $4,300,000 | -50 | $1,680 | $114,535,000 |
| 7 | GOAT (Sony) | 6 | 2,537 | $3,500,000 | -25 | $1,380 | $97,508,000 |
| 8 | Undertone (A24) | 2 | 2,570 | $3,015,003 | -66 | $1,173 | $15,213,266 |
| 9 | The Pout-Pout Fish (Viva Kids) | 1 | 1,854 | $1,500,000 | – | $809 | $1,500,000 |
| 10 | MET Opera: Tristan and Isolde (Fathom) | 1 | 709 | $722,499 | – | $1,019 | $722,499 |
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