Amazon Scores First Blockbuster Hit With “Project Hail Mary”

According to The Wall Street Journal, Amazon, which has now been in the movie industry for about a decade, has had its first major blockbuster hit. 

The film, "Project Hail Mary," stars Ryan Gosling in a science fiction adventure movie based on the 2021 book by Andy Weir, and it has opened to an estimated $80.5 million in the United States and Canada this weekend. 

It's not only the biggest-ever debut for Amazon, but it's the biggest opening for a film not part of an existing franchise besides "Oppenheimer" since the summer of 2023, the Journal reports. 

Amazon's Film Strategy Finally Pays Off 

To get to this point, Amazon has made many different decisions. At first, it focused on titles like "Manchester by the Sea," but later shifted to a more streaming-focused model, including "Coming 2 America." 

However, after Amazon bought MGM, Amazon MGM Studios returned to a more Hollywood-style model, releasing 15 films annually. 

Now, "Project Hail Mary" is their big hit. 

What's Next for Amazon MGM Studios

"Project Hail Mary" was a success, but what's next? Right now, the studio doesn't have established franchises, but that could soon change with "Masters of the Universe" and "The Thomas Crown Affair" remake coming up. They'll also have a hand in the next James Bond movie, too.