Project Hail Mary Posts $12M Previews, Biggest of 2026
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- Project Hail Mary earned $12 million in previews, the largest preview haul of 2026 so far, surpassing the $7.8 million posted by horror film Scream 7.
- The Ryan Gosling-led sci-fi film is projected for a $63-65 million opening weekend, which would top Creed III's $58 million to become Amazon MGM's biggest launch ever.
- The $200 million film, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is positioned to become Amazon MGM's first original blockbuster after a mixed post-acquisition track record that included wins like Creed III and The Beekeeper alongside misses like After the Hunt and Crime 101.
- Amazon acquired MGM Studios for $8 billion four years ago, and the parent company's $2.2 trillion market cap means the studio doesn't need its films to fully recoup production budgets — only marketing and distribution costs.
- Also opening this weekend, Searchlight's Ready or Not 2: Here I Come earned $1.2 million in previews, with Samara Weaving returning alongside Kathryn Newton and Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Why it matters: If Project Hail Mary hits its $63-65 million projection, it would be Amazon MGM's first original blockbuster four years after the $8 billion MGM acquisition — validating the studio's theatrical strategy. Amazon's $2.2 trillion market cap insulates it from individual flops, but a hit here would be the first proof that the deep-pocketed parent can convert originals into box office winners, not just franchise properties.
