'Project Hail Mary' Opens at $80.5M — Ryan Gosling Leads the Biggest Non-Franchise Hit Since Oppenheimer

Ryan Gosling's sci-fi epic "Project Hail Mary" dominated the box office with an $80.5M opening — a record for Amazon MGM and the second-biggest non-franchise opening since "Oppenheimer." Original, high-concept storytelling can still compete with tentpoles when backed by A-list talent and premium marketing.

Ghana's film industry must push for the theatrical-first model: pitch premium Ghanaian films for theatrical release in African and diaspora markets FIRST, then streaming. The theatrical window creates buzz that a direct-to-streaming release never achieves.