Project Hail Mary: parents' guide
Best for ages 12 and up. Rated PG-13 for some thematic material and suggestive references.
A big, hopeful space adventure that works for tweens who can sit through a long film of about two and a half hours. A science teacher wakes alone on a spaceship with no memory and must save Earth, forming an unlikely friendship with an alien. Expect peril, explosions, injuries with a little blood and the bodies of two dead crewmates. He gets drunk once, a character is drugged against his will, and astronauts briefly talk about ending their lives once the one-way mission is done. Language is very mild. Strong messages about courage and sacrifice make it a good pick for 12 and up.
What's in it
Violence
ModerateShips and equipment malfunction and explode, and some people die offscreen in a large blast. The hero finds two dead crewmates and later releases their bodies into space. He and Rocky suffer serious injuries, with cuts, bruises and a little blood.
Language
MildVery mild: 'piss' and 'bugger' once each, 'hell,' stand-ins like 'fudging' and 'freaking,' and about seven uses of God's name as an exclamation by one count.
Sex and nudity
MildNo sexual activity. Two adults flirt and cuddle at a party, project members are said to be 'hooking up,' and there are a few jokes, including Rocky's accidental 'I fist your bump.' Brief glimpses of underwear.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
ModerateAdults drink at a party, and the hero gets drunk on vodka stashed in an IV bag. A character is drugged against his will, heroin comes up in passing, and a song lyric mentions getting stoned.
Scary or intense scenes
ModerateLong stretches of isolation, confusion and despair, a jump scare, and emergencies where main characters nearly die. Astronauts briefly discuss ending their own lives after the one-way mission. One sequence has intense flashing lights.
Sensitive topics
- Suicide
Worth talking about
The story asks what you would risk for people you will never meet. Talk about the difference between feeling afraid and acting bravely anyway.
On our lists
Similar picks around 12+
Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, the MPA, movieguide.org, bbfc.co.uk. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.