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Just days before its nationwide theatrical debut, Amazon MGM Studios’ Project Hail Mary is generating widespread acclaim from critics, boasting a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from over 65 reviews as of March 10, 2026. The score edges out the 92% earned by Ridley Scott’s The Martian (2015), marking the Ryan Gosling-led space epic as one of the century’s most favorably reviewed sci-fi films.

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller—the Oscar-winning duo behind The LEGO Movie and the Spider-Verse franchise—this marks their first live-action directorial feature since 2014’s 22 Jump Street. Screenwriter Drew Goddard, who previously adapted Weir’s The Martian for the screen, delivers a faithful yet cinematic take on the 2021 novel. The film follows Ryland Grace (Gosling), a junior high science teacher who awakens alone aboard a spaceship far from Earth, grappling with amnesia while confronting a mission to reverse a solar dimming threat that could doom humanity.

Critics have praised the film’s blend of hard science, humor, emotional depth, and visual spectacle. Many highlight the central relationship between Grace and “Rocky,” an alien companion rendered through groundbreaking practical effects and puppeteering by Neal Scanlan and James Ortiz. Reviews describe Rocky as a “breakout star” whose design and performance evoke genuine warmth and wonder, turning the story into a heartfelt interspecies buddy adventure.

The Hollywood Reporter called it a “winner” for Amazon MGM, noting the film’s ability to balance intellectual rigor with crowd-pleasing entertainment. Deadline reported strong early buzz, projecting a $50 million-plus domestic opening weekend against a production budget estimated at over $150 million. IndieWire described Gosling’s performance as channeling the “Everyman” spirit of Matt Damon’s Mark Watney in The Martian, but with added layers of vulnerability and charm. USA Today awarded it four out of four stars, hailing it as “2026’s first great movie” and an “epic space adventure that checks all the sci-fi boxes.”

Empire magazine deemed it an “old-school crowdpleaser,” while Gizmodo emphasized that even viewers familiar with the book’s plot remain captivated by the execution. Nerdist went further, stating the film “made me romantic about movies” again, crediting its faithful adaptation, stellar soundtrack, and the lifelike portrayal of Rocky—achieved through a seamless mix of puppets, animatronics, and subtle CGI.

The film’s Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer stands at 95% “Certified Fresh,” with descriptors highlighting its intelligence, optimism, and visual innovation. On Metacritic, it holds a 79/100 from early reviews, indicating “generally favorable” reception. While audience scores are not yet fully available ahead of the March 20 release, social media reactions from preview screenings have echoed the enthusiasm, with many calling it a potential “masterpiece” rivaling Interstellar or The Martian.

Project Hail Mary premiered in London on March 9, 2026, with early IMAX and premium format screenings already underway in select markets. It opens wide in theaters—including IMAX and IMAX 70mm—on March 20, distributed by Amazon MGM Studios domestically and Sony Pictures internationally. The production was filmed with IMAX cameras to capture the vastness of space and intricate scientific sequences.

Weir’s novel, a follow-up to his debut The Martian, became a bestseller for its accessible explanations of astrophysics, xenobiology, and problem-solving. The film retains this spirit, emphasizing cooperation over conflict—both between humans and with extraterrestrial life. Gosling, an Academy Award nominee, also serves as a producer, bringing his signature wit to the reluctant hero role.

Supporting performances include Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, and Milana Vayntrub, adding depth to flashbacks and mission elements. The score and sound design have drawn particular praise for enhancing the sense of isolation and discovery.

As anticipation builds, Project Hail Mary arrives at a time when sci-fi blockbusters continue to draw audiences seeking smart, hopeful escapism. Its early critical success suggests it could follow The Martian‘s path—not only commercially, with that film grossing over $630 million worldwide—but also as a cultural touchstone for hard science fiction on screen.

Industry observers note the film’s timing could position it as an awards contender, particularly for Gosling’s lead performance, the visual effects, and adapted screenplay. With review embargoes lifted and word-of-mouth spreading rapidly, Project Hail Mary appears poised to soar beyond expectations, proving that thoughtful science fiction remains a powerful draw in modern cinema.

High oil prices due to the Iran war are pushing gasoline prices higher and that could lead to grocery bills rising for American consumers.

Oil prices surged in recent weeks after the outbreak of the Iran war, rising from the $60 to $70 a barrel range for most of February to more than $100 a barrel on Monday before gradually easing to about $85 a barrel during Tuesday’s trading session.

Higher oil prices, in turn, push gasoline and diesel prices higher, with the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline rising from $2.92 a month ago to $3.54 and diesel increasing from $3.66 to $4.78 in that period, according to AAA data.

The increase in oil, gas and diesel prices raises the transportation costs faced by businesses, including grocery stores, which may face pressure to raise the price of food and other items to account for the cost increases if the situation continues.

WILL TAPPING OIL RESERVES CURB SOARING GAS PRICES?

The war with Iran has affected the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a key choke point for the global energy market. (Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“Every time something moves in the economy it will cost more,” said Derek Reisfield, co-founder of MarketWatch and a former McKinsey consultant. “Someone, usually the end consumer, will have to pay for that.”

Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, told FOX Business, “For U.S. consumers, what this means is that while there is currently a price shock at the pump being felt directly by consumers, there’s still uncertainty as to how long this shock will last.”

“The effect on consumer spending activity is still somewhat fluid because we don’t know the duration of the shock to crude oil prices and in turn to gas prices,” he added, noting that gas prices will moderate if crude oil prices trend down toward their pre-war levels.

FED OFFICIALS CLOSELY MONITOR IRAN CONFLICT FOR POTENTIAL INFLATION IMPACT

Grocery prices could be affected by a protracted energy price shock because elevated oil and gas prices increase businesses’ transportation costs and could be passed on to consumers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Daco noted that businesses find themselves in “a very delicate pricing environment” because tariffs have raised input costs, which have been challenging to pass on to inflation-weary consumers. 

“Pricing sensitivity over the course of the last couple of years has increased dramatically, and increasingly consumers are constrained by affordability issues,” Daco said. 

Talent costs are also elevated with wages rising, and now transportation costs are increasing due to the oil and gas shock. And with consumers facing their own financial limitations, businesses are “really struggling in terms of your ability to find a relief valve on the pricing side.”

AMID IRAN WAR, PRESIDENT TRUMP SUGGESTS SHORT-TERM OIL PRICE SPIKE IS ‘SMALL PRICE TO PAY’ FOR PEACE

Gas prices jumped after the outbreak of the Iran war. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Daco said businesses may opt to address those headwinds through some combination of margin compression and selective pricing behavior to “stave off some of these shocks at least in the short run” as they try to protect market share while waiting to see whether the energy price shock will be short-lived or longer-lasting.

Ben Fulton, CEO of WEBs Investments, said the oil shock “will have a butterfly effect if prices stay above $70 for very long. The cost to transport, hedging costs for manufacturing and cushioning by producers to protect from possible pending inflation will be noticeable to retail.”

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Buying a home was once the bedrock of the American Dream, but for millions of families, that dream is being priced out of reach. 

With the typical down payment more than doubling since 2019 to $30,400, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is moving to bypass “economy-crushing” inflation. His newly introduced American Dream Accounts Act would empower first-time buyers to shield their savings from the IRS, allowing them to build a down payment faster and reclaim a stake in the country’s future.

“I grew up in public housing and watched my family struggle to make ends meet. For us, owning a home was out of reach because we couldn’t afford it,” Scott said in a press release. “Today, so many Americans are facing that same struggle, especially young first-time buyers who view homeownership as a critical milestone to help them achieve their American Dream.”

McMANSIONS BECOME FINANCIAL ‘LIABILITY’ AS BUYERS DITCH OVERSIZED HOMES

On Friday, the senator introduced the bill, which would allow for tax-exempt contributions and qualified withdrawals for down payments. Individuals under 35 years old can contribute up to $7,500 annually, while those over 35 have a “catch-up” limit of $10,000 per year.

A “for sale” sign is displayed outside of a home for sale on Aug.16, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)

There’s flexibility for couples as two buyers can combine distributions, allowing for a total qualified distribution of up to $500,000.

However, nonqualified withdrawals will face a 10% penalty, mirroring traditional 401(k) rules to ensure the money remains focused on buying a home. 

Realtor.com’s latest Down Payment Report found that the average amount needed for a home rose to $30,400 in the third quarter of 2025, double the figure from 2019. Additionally, the report estimated that it takes about seven years to save for that down payment.

“Unfortunately, years of inflation-driving, economy-crushing Democrat-led policies aren’t helping make it any easier. That’s wrong, and it’s why I am fighting every day to deliver real solutions that make housing more affordable for everyday Americans and make the dream of homeownership a reality,” Scott said.

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“Homeownership means stability and economic mobility,” he continued. “This bill will help first-time buyers save faster, and their money go farther to ease the financial barrier to homeownership for families.”

While Sen. Scott’s bill takes the initiative to the federal level, several states, including Virginia, Colorado, Iowa and Oregon, have pioneered first-time homebuyer savings accounts to help Americans reach homeownership goals.

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