Pastor Josh Howerton of Lakepointe Church has a new theory about the summer blockbuster Project Hail Mary — and he’s having plenty of fun making it.
In a recent YouTube Short, Howerton jokingly argued that the sci-fi film is filled with Christian imagery and biblical parallels, connecting everything from the names of its characters to its overarching story of sacrifice and redemption.
“Okay, so here’s my thesis,” Howerton said. “Project Hail Mary is a Christian movie.”
He then walked viewers through what he believes are a series of intentional—or at least fascinating—connections.
Howerton’s case for Project Hail Mary
According to Howerton, the film includes several themes that mirror biblical concepts:
- A decaying universe: He noted that the story begins with creation falling into decay, comparing it to the consequences of the Fall in Genesis 3. “The universe is decaying. That sounds a little familiar,” he said.
- The mission is called Hail Mary: Humanity’s final hope to save creation is a ship named Hail Mary, a title Howerton says immediately brings Christian imagery to mind.
- The hero is named Grace: He pointed out that the main character’s name is Grace, joking, “Now what do we have? We got Hail Mary, full of grace. Catholics are going to love this one.”
- Rocky represents Peter: Howerton connected the alien character Rocky to the Apostle Peter, whose name means “rock,” saying the film pairs “Grace and Rocky” much like Jesus and Peter.
- A sacrificial Savior: He highlighted a line in which Grace is asked to “give up my life in order to be the savior of the universe,” drawing a parallel to Christ’s sacrifice.
- Eva echoes Eve: Howerton also noted that the scientist who launches humanity’s rescue mission is named Eva, comparing her role to Eve in Genesis 3. “Eve is the one who will launch the rescue mission, but she will not complete the rescue mission,” he said before pointing out the character’s name.
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Along the way, Howerton also pointed to a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in which Rocky wears a hat reading “Savior of the Universe,” adding another layer to his theory.
Whether viewers agree with every connection or simply enjoy the exercise, Howerton’s playful breakdown offers a fresh way to think about one of this year’s biggest science-fiction films.
His conclusion?
“Ladies and gentlemen, Project Hail Mary is a Christian movie.”
What do you think? Are these genuine Christian themes woven into the story, or just some entertaining observations that make for a fun discussion?
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
