AceShowbiz - The latest box office forecasts indicate that the upcoming space thriller Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling in the lead, is expected to generate approximately $50 million domestically during its opening weekend, scheduled for release in a few weeks. This marks another step in Gosling's evolving career as he embraces more mainstream roles following appearances in the Russo Brothers' Netflix production The Gray Man, David Leitch’s action-comedy The Fall Guy, and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.

Looking ahead, Gosling is set to headline director Shawn Levy’s highly anticipated Star Wars: Starfighter, arguably the most significant project of his career to date. His previous ventures into mainstream cinema have retained the arthouse qualities that defined his earlier work, with films like Blade Runner 2049, La La Land, and The Nice Guys showcasing that blend.

Before these projects, Gosling was widely regarded as a cerebral actor, known for thoughtful films such as Drive, Lars and the Real Girl, and Half Nelson. Among his lesser-recognized works is a film that managed to earn nearly $50 million globally at the height of his arthouse fame. This particular movie has recently been overshadowed at the box office by a stylish new crime thriller, Crime 101.

Directed by Bart Layton, Crime 101 boasts a star-studded cast including Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, and Monica Barbaro. The film has drawn comparisons to the sleek crime thrillers of Michael Mann and was met with positive critical acclaim upon its release several weeks ago. It currently holds an "Certified Fresh" rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus praises it for its "sleek action set pieces and vivid characterizations," noting it as a standout in its genre.

Despite stiff competition in recent weeks, Crime 101 has maintained a strong box office presence, although it has not met the financial expectations of those involved. The film’s production budget was reportedly $90 million, and with a current worldwide gross of $57 million—$30 million of which is from domestic theaters—it faces an uphill battle to break even theatrically.

However, Crime 101 has surpassed the box office performance of The Place Beyond the Pines, an underrated Gosling gem that concluded its theatrical run with $47 million worldwide against a modest $15 million budget. Released in 2013 and directed by Derek Cianfrance, this epic crime drama also starred Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes.

The Place Beyond the Pines received strong critical praise, reflected in its "Certified Fresh" 79% Rotten Tomatoes score. The critics’ consensus highlights the film’s ambition and emotional depth, stating that it "finds writer/director Derek Cianfrance reaching for—and often grasping—thorny themes of family, fatherhood, and fate."

Fans can currently stream The Place Beyond the Pines at home, while Crime 101 remains available in theaters. Anticipation builds as audiences await the release of Gosling's upcoming Project Hail Mary, set to hit theaters on March 20.

For continuous updates on these films and more, stay tuned to Collider.