Bob Mondello

I put the knot.

Two days ago, they upped that prediction to $60 million.

Now, based on previews and first-day ticket sales, it looks like The Weeknd will top $77 million.

If it does, that'll be Hollywood's best opening weekend of 2026.

It'll also be one of the best openings for a non-franchise film ever.

up there with the likes of Oppenheimer and Jordan Peele's Us.

Bob Mondello, NPR News.

Project Hail Mary is not a sequel or a remake.

It's not animated or about superheroes, video games, or toys.

I'm several light years from my apartment, and I'm not an astronaut.

And yet film industry analysts were predicting a week ago that the Ryan Gosling film might open to as much as $50 million.

I put the knot.

an astronaut.

Two days ago, they upped that prediction to $60 million.

I've never done a spacewalk.

I can't even moonwalk.

Now, based on previews and first-day ticket sales, it looks like The Weeknd will top $77 million.

If it does, that'll be Hollywood's best opening weekend of 2026.

It'll also be one of the best openings for a non-franchise film ever, up there with the likes of Oppenheimer and Jordan Peele's Us.

Bob Mondello, NPR News.