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By India McCarty
You’re going to have to wait a little longer to stream PROJECT HAIL MARY at home.
“We announced yesterday that MGM is extending the exclusive theatrical window for PROJECT HAIL MARY, so it won’t be on streaming anytime soon,” the movie’s co-director, Christopher Miller, announced on X. “This is a movie that needs to be seen on a big screen — and with a full return to IMAX screens for one week only starting this weekend, make plans to see it in a theater now! Bring friends and loved ones. It’s an experience to share with others.”
We announced yesterday that MGM is extending the exclusive theatrical window for PROJECT HAIL MARY so it won’t be on streaming anytime soon. This is a movie that needs to be seen on a big screen – and w a full return to IMAX screens for 1 week only starting this weekend, make… https://t.co/suK8NYpgWM
— Christopher Miller (@chrizmillr) April 16, 2026
Related: Why We Shouldn’t Be Surprised By PROJECT HAIL MARY’s Success
PROJECT HAIL MARY has been a box-office smash; the movie has already brought in $517 million since its opening weekend and is playing in IMAX again for a special one-week run.
“PROJECT HAIL MARY is an excellent film for which Amazon/MGM ran a brilliant campaign, leaning heavily on the power of IMAX as a global launch platform across production, marketing, and distribution,” Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX, said in a press release. “Going back decades to some of our earliest documentaries, there is an enduring connection between IMAX and space, and this film’s stunning depiction of the cosmos stands among the best — it truly demands to be experienced in IMAX.”
By keeping the movie in theaters, Amazon MGM is extending its typical theatrical run window past 45 days, per Forbes. This is something moviegoers are going to see more of in the future, as Paramount CEO David Ellison just announced the studio would also be committing to a 45-day theatrical run window for their movies.
The studio’s co-head Dana Goldberg shared, “The driving force behind the new Paramount comes down to this: our creative community…From day one, we’ve been hard at work doing our part, which already includes bringing 15 theatrical films in 2026 — nearly double the prior year. Year over year, we’re scaling to give your audiences movies for every season, every mood and every taste.”
Universal also announced they would extend their window to 45 days, starting in 2027.
Donna Langley, the chair of NBCUniversal, told the New York Times, “Universal remains a theatrical-first studio. That’s proven by the breadth of our slate, our commitment to our filmmakers and the ongoing investments we make in the creative community.”
“Our windowing strategy has always been designed to evolve with the marketplace, but we firmly believe in the primacy of theatrical exclusivity and working closely with our exhibition partners to support a healthy, sustainable theatrical ecosystem,” she continued.
With plenty of money to be made at the box office from movies like PROJECT HAIL MARY, THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE and HOPPERS, it’s no surprise studios are rethinking their theatrical run windows.
Read Next: The Secret to Project Hail Mary’s Emotional Balance | Phil Lord & Chris Miller
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