Amazon MGM Gets a Much-Needed Hit With ‘Project Hail Mary’
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Nearly a year ago, Amazon’s top film executive Courtenay Valenti promised theater owners 14 movies annually, aiming to support struggling theaters with a stronger commitment to theatrical releases.
- Initial Amazon films like "After the Hunt," "Mercy," and "Crime 101" underperformed at the box office, failing to attract significant theater audiences.
- The release of "Project Hail Mary," a $195 million space adventure starring Ryan Gosling, marked a turning point, grossing an estimated $77.1 million domestically in its opening weekend, making it Amazon’s highest-grossing domestic film to date.
- Valenti emphasized Amazon’s strategy of producing big, original commercial films, citing 2025 as a
