Amazon MGM Studios' dystopian thriller 'Mercy,' starring Chris Pratt, is projected to top the domestic box office with $12.6 million over the weekend, unseating 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' after five weeks at number one. A massive winter storm from Texas to New England has forced numerous theater closures, contributing to the lowest-grossing weekend of 2026 so far at $58.4 million. The storm's impact includes shutdowns at major chains like AMC, Cinemark, and Regal.
The weekend's box office is dominated by 'Mercy,' a $60 million sci-fi thriller directed by Timur Bekmambetov. Chris Pratt stars as a detective accused of murdering his wife, played by Annabelle Wallis, who must prove his innocence within 90 minutes to an advanced AI judge portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson. The film earned $1.5 million in Thursday previews and $4.9 million on Friday from 3,468 theaters, leading to a three-day estimate of $12.6 million.
A severe winter storm has disrupted attendance across the eastern U.S., with states of emergency declared in 15 states including Texas, Missouri, and New York. Theater closures are widespread: AMC is shutting 59 locations in states like Tennessee, Texas, and Georgia; Cinemark 24 theaters in areas such as Louisville, Kentucky, and Plano, Texas; and Regal 22 sites. Power outages affect over 80,000 customers in Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana. The overall weekend gross of $58.4 million marks a 9% decline from the same frame last year and the lowest year-to-date total.
'Mercy' received mixed audience feedback, with a B- CinemaScore, 2.5 stars on PostTrak, and 45% definite recommend. Only 31% of viewers attended due to Pratt, while 44% cited the film's fun premise. Demographics show 48% Caucasian, 21% Hispanic and Latino, 17% Black, and 8% Asian American audiences, led by men over 25 at 45%.
Holdovers follow: 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' earns $7 million in its sixth weekend from 3,150 theaters, totaling $378.4 million domestically. Disney's 'Zootopia 2' adds $5.9 million in week nine, reaching $401.6 million. Lionsgate's 'The Housemaid' projects $4.6 million in week six for a $115.8 million cume, exceeding its $35 million net budget. Sony's '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' drops 66% to $4.2 million in week two, totaling $21.3 million against a $63 million budget. Newcomer 'Return to Silent Hill' eyes $3.2 million from 1,850 theaters, while 'Hamnet' expands to $1.8 million in week nine, totaling $17.4 million.
Amazon MGM spent $14.4 million on linear ads for 'Mercy,' generating 455 million impressions across NFL, college football, and other programming. The film plays evenly nationwide, strongest in the South and South Central regions, with 22% of its weekend from 3D, IMAX, and PLF screens.
