It turns out that saving the sun is easier than surviving the Internet.
Ave Maria Projectdirected by Ryan Gosling and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, surpassed $80 million in its opening weekend, the biggest debut for Amazon MGM Studios.
Not bad for a movie about a science teacher, an alien named Rocky, and… well, the literal end of the sun.
But the real fireworks? Online.
From whether the jokes land to debates about “serious science vs. Hollywood vibes,” the film has become a favorite plot point on social media.
Even its issues – such as global cooperation and fact-based science – are being dragged into the debate.
“Anything that incites debate… will drive the algorithm,” Jordan Levin said.
“The whole idea of international cooperation seems to be a political debate… this idea that science can solve our problems.”
And if you thought that was profound, movie nerds are busy asking if it belongs to the sci-fi greats or if it’s just really good marketing.
“There’s this whole debate about, ‘Is the movie-going experience alive or dead?’” Levin added.
Ironically, not being part of a franchise may be your secret weapon.
“It’s great to see,” Russell Schwartz said. “The good thing about a non-IP film is that you can conceptualize it from scratch…”
Meanwhile, even real-life space fans are impressed. Former astronaut Chris Hadfield praised its realism, noting that it “lights the spark.”[s] your curiosity.”
And here’s the twist: what started out as intense sci-fi could actually be… a family movie?
Whatever it is, one thing is clear: Ave Maria Project Not only did it open big. It opened a conversation that won’t calm down anytime soon.
