Amazon Scores First Blockbuster Hit With “Project Hail Mary”

Richard Janvrin
By: Richard Janvrin
Industry
Amazon Scores First Blockbuster Hit With “Project Hail Mary”

Photo by Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Key Takeaways

  • Project Hail Mary delivers Amazon’s biggest opening, topping $80.5 million in the US and Canada
  • Amazon’s shift to theatrical releases pays off after years of mixed strategies
  • Studio eyes major future franchises including James Bond and Masters of the Universe

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. 

“If it was a really good movie, it’s going to do really well when it comes to a streaming service,” said Mike Hopkins, head of Amazon MGM, in an interview. He also said that by doing it the traditional way, they'll be able to benefit from box office revenue, as well as Prime Video, a streaming service that also offers NFL games right now, assuming the NFL doesn't push for an increase in cost. 
He also said that buying the rights to movies has become more difficult due to the number of competitors. 
“We’ve got a lot more people that want to buy those movies over the last four or five years than studios making them,” Hopkins said.
Filming for "Project Hail Mary" began in 2024 and was a hit at IMAX theaters. 

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. 

“This is the year where we have some of our biggest, boldest bets coming on and then we have a lot planned for ’27 and ’28 and ’29,” said Hopkins. “I really do think we’re in the first half of the first inning.”

Richard Janvrin is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. He started writing as a teenager before breaking into sports coverage professionally in 2015. From there, he entered the iGaming space in 2018 and has covered numerous aspects, including news, reviews, bonuses/promotions, sweepstakes casinos, legal, and more.

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