Project Hail Mary is one of 2026’s most anticipated films. The science fiction movie stars Ryan Gosling and is based on the 2021 novel by Andy Weir. The movie follows a science teacher (Ryan Gosling) who wakes up on a spaceship and must piece together what remains of his memory, while trying to uncover why the sun is dying. The official release date for the movie is March 20, but select cities will have early screenings on IMAX 70mm.
San Francisco is one of the few cities that will have the early screenings, starting Friday, March 13. The AMC Metreon 16 will screen the movie on 70mm at 7 pm on Friday evening, with two additional 70mm screenings on Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15. You can also see early screenings of the film on the following Monday and Thursday, although they will not be shown on 70mm.
data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUtcoZ-Ee1e/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
Why is 70mm important?
So, why is seeing the movie on 70mm exciting? Movies shown on 70mm are twice the normal frame size of 35mm, and have a wider aspect ratio of 1.43:1. The result is crisp, high-resolution images with rich colors. Viewers typically report a more “immersive” experience when watching a 70mm film, due to the intense detail and clarity. This is especially exciting for a movie like Project Hail Mary, which has many scenes shot specifically for IMAX to fill the wider aspect ratio.
While 70mm is undisputed in its quality, not many theaters can show movies in the format. Only about 20 theaters across the United States can show IMAX 70mm (which is considered the best quality).
Luckily for San Franciscans, the SF Metreon 16 is equipped to show major releases, like Project Hail Mary, on IMAX 70mm for the ultimate viewing experience. Other cities with the early release on 70mm include Los Angeles, Boston, New York, and Chicago.
You can learn more and buy tickets here.
