Project Hail Mary Box Office Holds Strong as Film Reaches $54.5 Million Second Weekend

The Project Hail Mary box office performance remained steady in its second weekend, as the sci-fi film pulled in $54.5 million across cinemas in the United States and Canada. The film, directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller and starring Ryan Gosling, continues to build momentum, adding to what is already one of the biggest theatrical runs of the year.

After a strong debut, the film dropped just 32 percent in its second weekend, a sign of continued audience interest. So far, it has earned more than $300 million worldwide within two weeks of release. With a production budget close to $200 million, the film is on track to become one of the most successful original titles in recent years.

Strong Run and Mixed Weekend Results

The Project Hail Mary box office results were boosted by the lack of major new competition in theaters. The movie also maintained control of premium viewing formats, helping it draw large audiences. Industry observers note that its second weekend performance compares favorably to Oppenheimer, which saw a slightly steeper drop during the same period.

In contrast, the weekend’s main new release, They Will Kill You, opened with just $5 million. The horror film, featuring Zazie Beetz, struggled to attract large crowds despite its modest production budget. Its performance reflects a broader slowdown in the horror genre, which has seen frequent releases in recent months.

Read More: Project Hail Mary Takes Early Lead in 2026 Box Office

Analysts suggest that the steady stream of horror films may be affecting audience turnout. Over the past 14 weeks, a new horror title has been released almost every weekend. Recent entries such as Ready or Not 2: Here I Come and Forbidden Fruits have added to the crowded market, with the latter earning just $1.2 million in its debut.

Despite this slowdown, horror remains a strong contributor to overall ticket sales. Industry projections estimate the genre could still bring in over $2 billion in North America this year, though that would be lower than last year’s total.

Family films, however, continue to perform well. Pixar’s Hoppers held the second spot at the box office with $12.2 million in its fourth weekend. The animated film has now reached nearly $300 million globally, showing steady appeal among audiences.

Looking ahead, competition is expected to increase with the upcoming release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which is predicted to deliver one of the biggest openings of the year. This could challenge the continued dominance of Project Hail Mary at the box office in the coming weeks.

Top Movies at the Box Office

The top 10 films in U.S. and Canadian theaters over the weekend are:

1. Project Hail Mary – $54.5 million
2. Hoppers – $12.2 million
3. They Will Kill You – $5 million
4. Dhurandhar The Revenge – $4.8 million
5. Reminders of Him – $4.7 million
6. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come – $4 million
7. Scream 7 – $2.6 million
8. GOAT – $2.2 million
9. Undertone – $1.7 million
10. Forbidden Fruits – $1.2 million

With strong numbers and steady audience turnout, the sci-fi hit continues to lead the market, while other genres face mixed results at the box office.