Project Hail Mary has had a great run at the box office this year, but its physical release has been a bit confusing so far. The 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD editions all went up for preorder earlier this month with no release date attached. And now after a couple of weeks, Amazon has finally revealed the limited-edition 4K steelbook and an October 13 release date. The standard editions of the movie have also gotten a much earlier release date of August 11.
The steelbook comes with three discs, an artbook, and a minimalist steelbook case to hold everything. It’s currently priced at $49.99.
Project Hail Mary 4K Steelbook Preorders Are Live
Releases October 13, 2026
Project Hail Mary 4K UHD Steelbook
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The steelbook is the best version of the film to buy for collectors, but it’s quite a bit more expensive. Amazon only recently reduced the price of the standard 4K edition in preparation for the launch of the steelbook, but it’s a far better deal if you just want a high-quality way to watch the movie. If you buy the non-steelbook versions of the film, you’ll also be able to get your copy a full two months before the steelbook arrives. So if you already put in your preorder, you may want to hold off on cancelling in favor of the steelbook.
The main reason for a confusing physical release schedule is likely due to the film’s odd streaming debut. Instead of coming to any of the major services, like Amazon Prime or Netflix, it is currently only available to stream with an MGM+ subscription or buy renting it digitally. MGM is actually owned by Amazon, so this was done in an effort for the retail giant to funnel folks to one of its smaller subscription services. The steelbook delay and lack of a release date up until this point was likely a tactic to profit off the movie via subscription signups and digital rentals.
What we said in our review
IGN’s review of Project Hail Mary gave the film a solid 8 out of 10 score, praising Ryan Goslings performance. Here’s a summary of our thoughts about the film:
“Thrilling, heartfelt, and hilarious, Project Hail Mary is a rollicking sci-fi blockbuster. Lord and Miller faithfully adapt Andy Weir’s novel, carrying forward the author’s celebration of science, teamwork, and bravery on a huge scale, bolstered by great performances from Ryan Gosling and James Ortiz and Greig Fraser’s fantastic work behind the camera. Some pacing issues inherent in closely adapting the novel’s structure do make for a somewhat rough landing, but through the lens of Grace and Rocky’s partnership being the real mission we want to see succeed, Project Hail Mary is a memorable celebration of how much we can accomplish when we work together.” – Tom Jorgenson
Are There Bonus Features?
Image Credit: Amazon
There has yet to be a full list of special features revealed for the limited-edition steelbook, but thankfully we do at least have some idea of what to expect with the standard 4K and Blu-ray versions. Amazon now includes an image of the back of the box what showcases the following special features:
- Commentary by Directors Lord & Christopher Miler
- Deleted Scenes
- Earth’s Favorite Eridian
For more upcoming movies, check out our guide to all of the 4K Blu-ray release dates for 2026 and beyond.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor’s degree in communication and 10 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics — from TV series to books and the latest Pokémon games.