On the internet, there’s a lot of talk about Project Hail Mary’s great reviews, its box office wins, and the behind-the-scenes facts that make it a technical achievement. However, there’s also a whole lot of chatter about smaller and sillier topics surrounding this book-to-screen adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel, like Ryan Gosling’s glasses. To get even more specific, there’s quite a bit of talk about the weird way he chose to wear his spectacles. However, upon further reflection, I realized that I do the same thing with my sunglasses…which makes me think the actor is on to something.
The People Of TikTok Are Popping Off About Ryan Gosling’s Glasses In Project Hail Mary
Now, generally, I’d assume that the most common way to wear your glasses without them being on your nose is on top of your head. Like, if you need to take them off for a second, you scoot them up, and then they’re out of the way. However, in Project Hail Mary, Ryland Grace pulls his glasses off one ear and lets them dangle off the other below his chin. Fans found this choice Gosling made quite funny, and it’s caused an influx of TikToks that look like this:
Well, last year we had slutty little glasses thanks to Jonathan Bailey and Jurassic World Rebirth, and I guess this year, Project Hail Mary has given us chaotic and askew glasses. Truly, this project on the 2026 movie schedule and Gosling’s glasses are entertaining many fans as they try to wear their glasses in unexpected ways. Here’s another example:
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Then, on the podcast Miss Thing with Greg and Tim, Greg Trimmer called out “Ryan Gosling’s glasses acting.” He claimed that “no one who actually uses glasses to see would ever treat their glasses like that.” And at first, I agreed. I thought the choice the actor made was odd.
However, I took the weekend to think about Gosling’s glasses while wearing my glasses, and I had a realization that parallels this TikTok:
Yeah, I realized that I actually wear my glasses the same way Ryland Grace does on occasion…so maybe Ryan Gosling really was on to something.
I Realized I Wear My Glasses Like Ryan Gosling Sometimes
Like many of the fans above, I too was a bit baffled and entertained by the La La Land star’s choice to wear his glasses below his face and off one ear instead of on his head. However, then I was driving over the weekend and wearing a pair of wirey sunglasses, which aren’t super dissimilar to Ryland’s glasses in the movie, and I unconsciously moved them off my face the same way he does.
My sunglasses were thin, flexible, and the nose pads were not plastic. They were the kind that are slightly disconnected, that get stuck in your hair if you move them to the top of your head. So, naturally, when I needed to remove my sunglasses for a second to look at my map, I moved them off one of my ears and let them dangle by my chin. Then, I easily put them back on once I saw what needed to be seen.
It was convenient, especially for those glasses, and it made me realize that Ryan Gosling and Ryland Grace were not doing anything that odd. While this method is by no means common, it’s maybe not as unusual as I had initially thought.
So, now, the next time I see Project Hail Mary (which you can see in theaters now), I won’t poke as much fun at the glasses and how they’re worn. Instead, I’ll take a moment to give credit where credit is due, because sometimes, off one ear and below the chin is the best place to put your glasses.