The stars aligned: 'Project Hail Mary' launches to the biggest domestic box office weekend of 2026 | Movie Releases & Trends – Weekend of March 20, 2026

Audiences turned out big at the box office this weekend. Project Hail Mary took in more than half (55%) of admissions and 55% of box office revenue, with audiences skewing male (55%). With the boost of a big IMAX release, the box office took in over $140M over three days, bringing it up to $1.6B year to date, up 19% from a year ago today.  

Based on the bestselling novel by Andy Weir and starring Ryan Gosling, the film received overwhelmingly positive reactions from critics and audiences. Reviews consistently praise the movie’s blend of science, optimism, humor, and the emotional core of the story, particularly the unlikely friendship between Gosling’s Ryland Grace and the alien Rocky. Fans of the book have also responded positively, noting that the film largely “does the book justice,” especially in its handling of Rocky’s design and personality.  

Dhurandhar: The Revenge, brought in about $10M this weekend, despite a smaller opening in fewer than 1,000 theaters. A dramatic conclusion to a two-part saga, the Hindi-language spy action thriller came in fourth for total admissions and brought in a more even gender split (52% male/48% female) than Project Hail Mary.

Dhurandhar, the first installment, premiered in December 2025, landing a number seven spot in the admissions rankings and grossing nearly $2M domestically from fewer than 400 theaters. With a runtime of roughly three hours and forty-nine minutes, the sequel is among the longest Indian films ever released theatrically. The strong performance this weekend highlights the growing presence—and increasingly passionate audience—for international titles in the North American marketplace.

Ready or not, here they come: two more new titles crash the top 10

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come picks up immediately after the bloody events of the 2019 cult hit. The sequel opened third in total admissions and just over $9M—slightly higher than the original film’s opening weekend—suggesting that the franchise has retained much of its core fan base. Early reviews have been mostly positive, and with solid word of mouth the film could demonstrate some staying power in the coming weeks, particularly with genre audiences.

The final new title this past weekend was The Pout-Pout Fish, an animated fantasy-comedy based on the popular children’s book by Deborah Diesen.  

The story follows Mr. Fish, a grumpy and reclusive ocean pout, and Pip, an energetic baby sea dragon, as they embark on an adventure to find a legendary wish-granting fish that could save their underwater homes.  

The film opened in fewer than 2,000 theaters and lacks the marketing power of larger studio family releases, which may make it difficult to break out at the box office—especially with major family competition arriving very soon. It garnered just 1% of admissions and 1% of the weekend’s box office.  

Power-ups and pop royalty: April brings 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' and 'Michael' to the big screen

Looking ahead, April will bring one of the most anticipated family releases of the year: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which arrives April 3. The sequel to the massive 2023 hit reunites much of the original voice cast—including Chris Pratt as Mario and Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach—and expands the universe into the cosmic settings made famous by the beloved video game series. The first film grossed more than $1.3B worldwide, so expectations are extremely high for this follow-up. 

April’s slate also includes a mix of genres aimed at different audiences, including the music biopic Michael later in the month, which explores the life and career of Michael Jackson.  

With family animation, horror-comedy, and major biographical drama all arriving within a few weeks, April should provide the kind of diverse slate that historically helps sustain box office momentum after the early-spring period. 

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