Many young Americans, especially Gen Z, have learned to structure their lives around avoiding fear. They build their lives carefully, setting boundaries and minimizing risk. “Stay safe” has become the unconscious mantra of the masses. In the biggest debut film of 2026 so far, Project Hail Mary, a sci-fi movie adapted from a novel of the same name by Andy Weir, Ryland Grace has done the same thing.
(Warning: Spoilers!)
