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Original stories that find their way to the big screen are thriving at the box office in early 2026.
Defying all odds, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller Hail Mary projectstarring Ryan Gosling, opened with an $80.6 million domestic launch — the best showing of the year so far, as well as setting Amazon Studios’ best new show. The news was also good overseas, with the sci-fi epic collecting $60.4 million overseas from more than 80 markets — ranking first in 60 — for a $141 million global launch, likely the best start to 2026 so far for a Hollywood title.
Hail Mary project This is a notable win for Amazon MGM Studios as it once again attempts to become a full-fledged major studio in Hollywood. And the successful handling of the film couldn’t be more perfectly timed as David Ellison’s Paramount-Skydance company prepares to merge with Warner Bros., a deal that has left many in Hollywood reeling from massive job losses and worrying about fewer films being made outside the confines of established franchises.
Then he comes along Greetings from Maryam Project Upending the prevailing theory that multiplexes have become kingpin with sequels, trilogies and endless franchise installments. Example: Peace be upon you, Mary He joins Christopher Nolan Oppenheimer In becoming the second non-supplemental or non-franchise installment in the last decade to open for $80 million or more domestically.
Gosling’s film is the highest-grossing film of all time Barbiebut Hail project It is its largest domestic opening featuring an actor in a lead role, and has not been adjusted for inflation. It is also the best locally for Lord and Miller.
In addition to Gosling, Sandra Holler also stars in Lord and Miller’s sci-fi epic based on Andy Weir’s novel about a science teacher who wakes up on a spaceship light-years from home with no memory of who he is or how he got there. When his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: to solve the mystery of the mysterious substance that causes the disappearance of the sun. He must use his scientific knowledge and unconventional ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unlikely friendship means he may not have to do it alone.
project Peace be upon you, Mary He was eyeing a $50 million-$60 million debut heading into the weekend, but quickly shifted into high gear when both of them Critics and audiences have embraced the warm-hearted action-adventure film with rave reviews and out-of-this-world audience polls — including an A CinemaScore, near-perfect PostTrak exits, and a 96 audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes (critics score 95 percent).
after Hail Mary project and Oppenheimerthe next biggest opening for a non-sequel or franchise opened to $60 million or more domestically; we ($71 million). Excluding these three titles, only two such films have opened to $50 million or more in the post-pandemic era; Apple F1: The movie and And it ends with us.
“Openings like this are what makes this special,” said Kevin Wilson, president of Amazon MGM Domestic Distribution. “You can feel how big this film is in the rave reviews from early screenings and huge presales. Congratulations to everyone involved in making this film.” “It leaves no doubt that Ryan Gosling is a unique star with enormous global appeal and the appeal to anchor a story like this.”
Or as he summed it up THRReview “Ryan Gosling proves he can have chemistry with a rock in a thrilling space journey warmed by humanity and hope.”
The film also opened in 82 markets worldwide, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Korea, Japan and China. On a like-for-like basis, excluding China, its opening weekend results were on par with Interstellar and Dune, marking only the fourth non-sequel/non-sequel film to open to over $50 million internationally post-coronavirus alongside Oppenheimer, F1: The movieand Superman.
The film held number one in over 60 countries until MGM built its own international distribution system – believe it or not, this is what separates the major Hollywood studios from other companies, like Lionsgate or MGM before Amazon bought them out.
Authenticity has become a major talking point at the box office in early 2026. Pixar, the animation studio that has built its brand on telling stories that can be passed down across generations, has had a rough patch lately, but its new film Hoppers It looks like he broke the curse. After three weekends, the film is the highest-grossing Hollywood film at the global box office with ticket sales reaching $242.6 million through Sunday. It’s also the highest-grossing film domestically, animated or otherwise, having earned another $18 million in its third outing for $120.4 million.
This does not mean that the concessions were entirely without permission from the weekend.
Another strong new player at the weekend is Durandar: The revengethe latest release of the Indian action thriller starring Ranveer Singh. The pic outperformed to come in third place with north of $10 million.
and horror comedy Searchlight Pictures Ready or Not 2: Here I come It ranked fourth in its North American launch with an estimated $9.1 million for an early global debut of $11.9 million after being released in its first set of major markets. The film, directed by film duo Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillette), stars Samara Weaving, who reprises her role as fan-favorite Grace.
Ready or not 2 It received strong reviews and the B+ CinemaScore iAn North also launched in its first set of key markets overseas, including the UK, Australia and Brazil. It will be up and running almost everywhere by mid-April.
