Written by Project Hail Mary is available on Prime Video, so fans of the Ryan Gosling space adventure can launch themselves headfirst into this fun sci-fi story about saving humanity. Project Hail Mary was a glorious addition to 2026’s roster of films, pulling in over $680M at the box office with a budget of $200M (via BoxOfficeMojo; as of July 5, 2026).
The answer is clear: Hollywood is back. The audience wants more original stories on the big screen, and not just sequels or reboots. Based on Andy Weir’s book of the same name, the movie’s 2026 clout will see it perform well at Prime Video, but here are ten other movies that are based on books that will give Phil Lord/Chris Miller some competition.
Please note that a few of the films require you to rent or buy them on Amazon Prime Video.
1. The Martian Has the Same Writer as Project Hail Mary
The Martian is Ridley Scott’s epic space film based on another Andy Weir novel of the same name. We have Matt Damon once again in need of rescue, and the movie shares the same optimistic and fun energy of Project Hail Mary. The movie serves as a rival to Project Hail Mary’s protagonist, with both of them sharing the same cheery scientific DNA while being resourceful with what they have.
Most of the film sees the protagonist on Mars, attempting to survive, with Damon’s acting chops in full display as the astronaut plays a humorous nerd. The Martian succeeds in telling a powerful story of survival amidst all odds, and the final scene is truly an edge-of-your-seat experience analogous to Project Hail Mary’s final space mission.
2. Ghost in the Shell is a Powerful Cyberpunk Story
A still from Ghost in the Shell | Bandai Visual
The cyberpunk dystopian anime based on Masamune Shirow’s manga of the same name is a great example of the human condition. Rivaling Project Hail Mary in terms of the quality of storytelling, Ghost in the Shell’s aesthetic, art, and soundtrack take us on a mind-bending journey from the very start. The movie does great justice to the source material, translating the art style into animation almost page-to-page.
The movie deserves to be on this list for remaining faithful to its source material, condensing a sprawling story into a feature-length runtime. We highly recommend catching this movie if you’re a fan of sci-fi that tells subtextual stories that leave you thinking about what it means to be human. The movie is getting a brand-new remake in the form of an anime that will be released in 2026.
3. Arrival Has a Cerebral First-Contact Story
A still from Arrival | Paramount Pictures
Both Arrival and Project Hail Mary are stories about establishing first contact with an alien species. Where Arrival shines is the cerebral nature in which communication takes place. Project Hail Mary does so in a humorous manner, whereas Denis Villeneuve’s film is a serious and unflinching story about figuring out the intentions of aliens on Earth. Arrival is perhaps Denis Villeneuve’s best movie, and arguably one of the best sci-fi movies of all time.
The movie rivals Project Hail Mary in its atmospheric storytelling, with visuals of the aliens feeling truly out of this world, while Rocky felt cuter and more animal-like. True to the genre, the movie does not dilly-dally, taking you into the meat of the story along with a powerful twist at the end that will make you want to rewatch the story and check out the short story it’s based on: Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang.
4. Contact Pushes Carl Sagan’s Vision to the Big Screen
A still from Contact | Warner Bros.
Robert Zemeckis adapted the legendary Carl Sagan’s book of the same name, and it feels like a direct rival to Project Hail Mary. The movie touches upon the philosophy behind understanding the universe, even if it comes at a high cost. Contact is a fantastic rival to Project Hail Mary, setting a deeper tone of spirituality when evidence is thrown in your face.
While Project Hail Mary is an explosive and fun adventure, this one is about wrestling with the fundamental secrets of what’s out there. A good example of a movie where the alien is the good guy, Contact sees Zemeckis direct during his prime, with Jodie Foster convincingly portraying a constant existential crisis.
5. Life of Pi is a Wonderful Story of Understanding
A still from Life of Pi | 20th Century Fox
Ang Lee’s Life of Pi is based on Yann Martel’s novel and exploded onto big screens with a young boy and a tiger marooned on a boat in the middle of the ocean. The movie weaves through some of the most beautiful visuals that rival Project Hail Mary’s space scenes, with shimmering lighting that stuns. Both films are about survival, and Life of Pi is a good rival to the Ryan Gosling film because of its more metaphorical stance on forming a bond with someone you don’t fully understand.
One can argue that stories about space and the ocean are the same because of the idea that you don’t know what’s out there or in there. Both films are also about co-dependency in the face of the unknown, making Life of Pi a great addition to Prime Video’s list of films based on books.
6. Nineteen Eighty-Four is a Great Orwell Adaptation
A still from Nineteen Eighty-Four | 20th Century Fox
We’ve all heard the term “Orwellian,” and we needn’t look further than Michael Radford’s film, which successfully adapted George Orwell’s 1984. A dystopia where surveillance tech oppresses humans, even their facial expressions, this movie is a fantastic adaptation that shows us an example of bureaucracy working against you.
This movie deserves to be on this list because of setting a gold standard for book adaptations, while its themes remain dark and dystopian. Project Hail Mary is the relatively happier side of the government backing you. Be careful when you watch this film, because once you dive deep into the concepts of authoritarianism, there is no going back to viewing any institution with the same awareness you had before.
7. The Boys from Brazil Sees Clones of Hitler
A still from The Boys from Brazil | 20th Century Fox
Franklin J. Schaffner adapted Ira Levin’s 1976 thriller of the same name, giving us another “save the world” story like Project Hail Mary with many distinctions. The Boys from Brazil sees Nazis clone Hitler in the effort to continue his legacy, and the movie does a good job of making us question the concept of evil.
With great performances, you’ll find yourself constantly asking important questions about how politics is the same way you would ask about the extinction-level threats in Project Hail Mary. If you can reconstruct Hitler’s conditions, then what’s to stop another dictator from taking over? Both films face the possibility of extinction and are thought experiments turned into reality through science. Netflix plans to adapt the book into a five-part limited series.
8. Z for Zachariah Is a Post-Apocalyptic Romance
A still from Z for Zachariah | Lionsgate
With a stacked cast, Craig Zobel’s Z for Zachariah is a movie based on Robert C. O’Brien’s novel of the same name. With only three people in the entire film navigating a post-apocalyptic world, this is a romance story disguised as a survival thriller. While Ryland Grace is trying to save all of humanity with space jargon, Ann’s story feels more realistic and grounded in its narrative.
Margot Robbie shines as the protagonist, navigating a love triangle while she’s the last woman on Earth. Z for Zachariah is all about co-existence when there is nobody for company, giving Project Hail Mary’s themes a run for their money. Both movies tackle existential threats throughout, with Project Hail Mary choosing to do so in a lighter fashion.
9. Invasion of the Body Snatchers Is a Horror Sci-Fi Classic
A still from Invasion of the Body Snatchers | United Artists
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a frightening concept executed as horrifyingly as the Jack Finney novel it’s based on. Philip Kaufman tells the story of aliens replacing humans and making them stoic machines, making you existentially question the fear of losing oneself. A cosmic horror film at its roots, the movie is a direct rival to Project Hail Mary’s more cosmic fascination side of things.
Project Hail Mary’s alien species are like humans, capable of a range of emotions, but not the ones in the former. When you watch Invasion of the Body Snatchers, you’re completely immersed in the old aesthetic that remains timeless for its sound effects and cinematography. The movie consistently makes it to lists that involve the best sci-fi horror films of all time.
10. John Dies at the End Is a Fun Doomsday Scenario
A still from John Dies at the End | Magnet Releasing
Don Coscarelli’s John Dies at the End is a relatively obscure film based on Jason Pargin’s novel that deserves more love. Playing out like a slacker comedy of Project Hail Mary, we have world-ending stakes with a cast of underachievers who take a drug that opens the door to eldritch horrors. The movie rivals Project Hail Mary in telling a world-ending story on a budget, with realistic reactions to the scenarios that unfold.
All this happens inside the mind, and the movie executes this with ingenious filmmaking that blends genres seamlessly. Akin to films like This Is the End, you’re in for a good time when you tune into this film with your friends. The movie is a wonderful adaptation of its source material and shines as the underdog on this list.
Here are the movies discussed along with their IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes ratings.
MovieIMDb(as of July 5, 2026)Rotten Tomatoes(Critic | Audience)(as of July 5, 2026)Stream or Rent/BuyThe Martian (2015)8.0/1091% | 91%StreamGhost in the Shell (1995)7.9/1095% | 89%StreamArrival (2016)7.9/1094% | 83%Rent/buyContact (1997)7.5/1069% | 79%Rent/buy Life of Pi (2012)7.9/1086% | 84%Rent/buy Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)7.0/1076% | 71%StreamThe Boys from Brazil (1978)7.0/1072% | 66%StreamZ for Zachariah (2015)6.0/1080% | 44%StreamInvasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)7.4/1093% | 82%StreamJohn Dies at the End (2012)6.3/1059% | 54%Stream
Which movie do you plan to see? Let us know in the comments.
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