Lord & Miller's triumphant return! See how Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling, out-earned their former Star Wars film, Solo, at the domestic box office.
- April 14, 2026
AceShowbiz - Project Hail Mary, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, has achieved a box office milestone by overtaking Solo: A Star Wars Story in domestic earnings.
The story behind this box office comparison begins with Lord and Miller being replaced by Ron Howard during the production of Solo. The switch resulted in a film that, despite mostly positive critical reviews, underperformed financially at the box office.
After a hiatus from filmmaking, the duo returned with Project Hail Mary, an adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel. The film stars Ryan Gosling as a scientist-turned-schoolteacher embarking on a mission across space to save humanity. Since its release, the movie has received widespread acclaim.
In its fourth weekend, Project Hail Mary surpassed the domestic gross of Solo: A Star Wars Story, a feat it had already accomplished worldwide. The film’s success is reflected in its impressive Rotten Tomatoes scores, holding a "Certified Fresh" 94% critics' rating and a "Verified Hot" audience score of 96%. The website’s consensus praises the film as "a visually dazzling space odyssey" that benefits greatly from Ryan Gosling’s performance.
This resurgence for Phil Lord and Christopher Miller follows their previous experience with Lucasfilm. Ron Howard’s effort on Solo remains respected, but the financial results of that film stand as an outlier in the Star Wars saga’s otherwise consistent box office dominance.
Project Hail Mary’s blend of scientific intrigue and emotional depth, combined with Ryan Gosling’s lead role, has resonated with both critics and moviegoers.
As Project Hail Mary continues its theatrical run, it remains to be seen how high it will climb in overall box office rankings. However, its achievement in surpassing Solo: A Star Wars Story domestically and globally is notable.
