Chris Pratt's new thriller 'Mercy' is poised to open in around $10 million to $13 million at North American theaters this weekend, competing with James Cameron's 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' in its sixth week. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the film features Pratt as a detective tried for his wife's murder by an AI judge played by Rebecca Ferguson. As Amazon MGM's first major release of 2026, 'Mercy' enters a market running 18% ahead of last year.
Chris Pratt's latest film, 'Mercy,' arrives in theaters this weekend with projections of $10 million to $13 million in earnings from approximately 3,400 North American locations. The PG-13 thriller, produced on a $60 million budget excluding marketing, marks Amazon MGM Studios' significant entry into the year's theatrical slate.
Set in a near-future world, 'Mercy' follows Pratt's character, a detective accused of murdering his wife, as he faces judgment from a futuristic AI system voiced and portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the story explores themes of technology and justice in a high-stakes trial.
'Mercy' faces competition from 'Avatar: Fire and Ash,' which has dominated charts for five weeks and is expected to add $8 million to $10 million in its sixth weekend. The sequel has earned $368 million domestically and $1.32 billion worldwide so far, making it the second-highest grossing film of 2025 behind 'Zootopia 2.'
Industry analyst David A. Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research noted the positive momentum: "[It's an] encouraging start to 2026, [with] robust holdover business." However, he cautioned about potential slowdowns as holidays end and schools resume.
January box office figures are 18% ahead of 2025, per Comscore, buoyed by strong holdovers. Amazon MGM plans to build on this with upcoming titles like 'Project Hail Mary' starring Ryan Gosling, 'Masters of the Universe,' and 'Verity' based on Colleen Hoover's novel. Broader anticipation surrounds releases such as 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,' Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey,' and 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day.'
Whether 'Mercy' can outperform the 'Avatar' installment remains to be seen in this quieter post-holiday period.
