The Martian did not single-handedly create Project Hail Mary, but the 2015 film helped demonstrate that a science-driven survival story by Andy Weir could work as a major theatrical movie. The clearest links are Weir’s novels, screenwriter Drew Goddard’s involvement in both adaptations, and their shared focus on solving problems far from help.
Why The Martian matters to Project Hail Mary
A ComicBook.com article published October 2, 2026, argues that Project Hail Mary owes a debt to The Martian. Read that as an interpretation of the films’ connection, not as a documented production fact: the available reporting does not establish that The Martian alone caused the later film to be made.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Project Hail Mary: A Novel | $13.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Andy Weir's 3-Book Collection Set (Project Hail Mary, Artemis, the Martian) | $41.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Project Hail Mary (Korean Edition) | $35.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Project Hail Mary (Deluxe Edition): A Novel | $22.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Project Hail Mary (Italian Edition) | $10.49 | Buy on Amazon |
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The strongest connection is Andy Weir. The Martian adapts his 2011 novel, and Project Hail Mary adapts another of his books. Both put scientific problem-solving at the center of survival, though they are not the same story or a direct continuation.
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| Comparison | The Martian | Project Hail Mary |
|---|---|---|
| Setting and stakes | Mark Watney is stranded on Mars and must survive there. | An interstellar mission is tied to a threat to Earth. |
| Survival and science | Science-led problem-solving drives Watney’s attempt to stay alive in isolation. | Scientific problem-solving likewise helps drive survival in a deep-space mission. |
| Adaptation link | Adapted from an Andy Weir novel; Drew Goddard wrote the adaptation. | Adapted from another Weir novel; Goddard also wrote this adaptation. |
The shared formula is not proof that one film borrowed directly from the other. Rather, each turns a science-forward premise into a character-centered survival story. Their circumstances differ: Watney faces the immediate solitude of Mars, while Project Hail Mary broadens the stakes to a mission beyond Earth and relationships formed along the way.
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The ComicBook.com writer describes both films as humane and optimistic. That is a critical judgment, not an objective measure or established consensus. Viewers may respond differently to their tone, pacing, or emotional stakes.
The practical production connection: Drew Goddard
The overlap extends beyond the source author. The Associated Press reports that Drew Goddard wrote both adaptations, giving the films a concrete creative link. That does not show that the earlier film caused the later one to happen; it does help explain why audiences may recognize a similar emphasis on making technical challenges legible as drama.
What the box-office figures do—and do not—show
The ComicBook.com article reports that The Martian earned $630.6 million at the box office. About Amazon reported on July 3, 2026, that Project Hail Mary had earned more than $680 million globally. These figures come from different publishers, and the available information does not establish a like-for-like comparison. They cannot by themselves prove that the success of The Martian caused the newer adaptation, nor do they account for inflation or differing release contexts.
Where to watch or revisit the stories
As of its July 3, 2026 update, Amazon reported that Project Hail Mary was streaming on Prime Video worldwide. Streaming catalogs can change, so check the current listing for your country before planning to watch.
Rank #3
20th Century Studios lists The Martian as available on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital. For the adaptation lineage, Andy Weir’s novels are natural companion reads; Penguin Random House lists his catalog, including a movie-tie-in edition of Project Hail Mary.
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Rank #4
Sources
- ComicBook.com: The Martian and Project Hail Mary comparison
- 20th Century Studios: The Martian
- Associated Press: Project Hail Mary filmmakers
- About Amazon: Project Hail Mary update
- Penguin Random House: Andy Weir
- Penguin Random House: Project Hail Mary movie-tie-in edition
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