Mercy Movie 2026 Your Complete Guide to the Chris Pratt Sci-Fi Thriller
Mercy movie 2026 Chris Pratt fans are surprised by Mercy, and not in the way you expect. This isn’t a superhero spectacle or a light-hearted action ride. It’s darker, smarter, and far more intense, leaving many viewers asking the same question: where can you stream it, and why does it feel so different from his usual movies?
Mercy stands as one of the most cinematically ambitious films to launch in 2026. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, this science fiction action thriller reunites the director with Chris Pratt for a high-concept story that places artificial intelligence and justice on trial.
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Production Background & Core Details
Mercy is a collaboration between several major Hollywood forces. The film is directed by Timur Bekmambetov, known for Wanted and as a pioneer of the “Screenlife” genre. The screenplay is by Marco van Belle, and the film is produced by a powerhouse team including Charles Roven of The Dark Knight trilogy fame.
Mercy was produced by Atlas Entertainment and Bazelevs Production. Notably, the film’s score is composed by Ramin Djawadi, the renowned composer behind the music for Game of Thrones and Westworld. Principal photography took place in Los Angeles during April and May of 2024.
Plot: A 90-Minute Race Against an AI Judge
Set in the very near future of 2029 Los Angeles, the film follows Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt). Raven finds himself in a terrifying reversal of fortune: strapped into an execution chair and on trial for the murder of his own wife. His judge, jury, and potential executioner is “The Mercy Program,” an advanced artificial intelligence system he once championed as a revolutionary tool for justice.
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The core mechanic of the story is a relentless, real-time countdown. Raven has only the 90 minutes of the film’s runtime to act as his own defense attorney and investigating detective. He must use the AI court’s own systems, which grant him access to every connected camera and digital record within its jurisdiction, to unearth evidence proving his innocence before the Mercy Program passes a fatal verdict.
This premise creates a taut psychological thriller where Raven must investigate his own life, confronting his struggles with alcoholism, a violent temper, and a strained marriage, all of which point to his guilt. As Chris Pratt described, “The deeper you go, the more you realize this is a man who may have committed this crime”.
Main Characters & Cast
Mercy features a strong ensemble cast led by Hollywood A-listers.
- Chris Raven (Chris Pratt): An LAPD homicide detective who was instrumental in implementing the Mercy Program, having used it to convict and execute eight criminals. His world shatters when he becomes the program’s next defendant.
- The Mercy Program AI (Rebecca Ferguson): Ferguson embodies the voice and presence of the omnipotent AI judge. She is the impassive, logical arbiter of Raven’s fate, representing the cold efficiency of algorithmic justice.
- Annabelle Wallis: Plays an undisclosed but key role.
- Kali Reis: Joins the cast in a role that remains officially unspecified.
- Chris Sullivan, Rafi Gavron, Kenneth Choi, Kylie Rogers, and Jeff Pierre Round out the supporting cast in pivotal roles.
Innovative “Screenlife” Format & Theatrical Experience
Mercy is not a conventional thriller. Director Timur Bekmambetov employs and expands upon his signature “Screenlife” format. This technique tells a story entirely through images seen on computers, phones, and other digital screens, which he previously used in films like Searching and Unfriended.
For Mercy, this format is central to the plot. Raven’s evidence is presented on a multitude of screens within the court chamber, showing security footage, social media posts, text messages, and video calls from his past. Bekmambetov and producer Charles Roven have emphasized that this makes the film a uniquely immersive Augmented Reality (AR)-like experience in theaters.
“It’ll be like an AR movie… Literally in the theater, you will see how the screens [are] surrounding you,” Bekmambetov stated. Roven added that the 3D presentation will send these screens flying out into the audience, placing viewers directly in Raven’s perspective.
Release Strategy, Early Previews & Where to Watch
Mercy debuted in theaters across the United States on January 23, 2026. The film had a unique preview event on January 19, 2026, when it was shown to unsuspecting audiences as part of the AMC Screen Unseen and Regal Monday Mystery Movie programs. This marked the first time an IMAX film was released through this secret preview format.
- Current Availability: As of its release date, Mercy is exclusively in theaters and is not yet available on any streaming platform or for digital purchase.
- Future Streaming: The film is distributed by Amazon MGM Studios. Based on standard industry windows and the studio’s past patterns with major theatrical releases (like Air and Saltburn), it is highly probable that Mercy will eventually stream exclusively on Prime Video. A streaming debut typically occurs 45-90 days after the theatrical opening, which could place it on Prime Video in Spring 2026.
- International Distribution: Sony Pictures Releasing International is handling the film’s release outside the United States and Canada.
Production Cost & Critical Reception
While the exact production budget for Mercy has not been officially disclosed by Amazon MGM Studios, it is a major studio film with A-list talent, pioneering 3D/IMAX Screenlife technology, and a complex post-production process involving vast amounts of digital footage. Industry analysis of similar films suggests a budget likely in the $60-100 million range.
The film is too new for comprehensive critical reviews. As a just-released January title, major publications are still publishing their reviews. However, its unique format and high-profile nature are generating significant discussion in film circles. The early preview screenings on January 19th provided the first wave of audience reactions, which will shape its initial word-of-mouth and performance on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb.
Themes & Cultural Relevance
Beyond its thriller mechanics, Mercy engages with profoundly relevant themes:
- Algorithmic Justice: It questions what is lost when human judgment, with its nuances and capacity for mercy, is replaced by cold, efficient code.
- Digital Privacy & Life: The film visualizes the concept that our digital footprints are a comprehensive record of our lives, exploring how this data could be used against us.
- Real-Time Narrative: The 90-minute race against the clock creates intense, immersive pressure, making the audience feel every passing second of Raven’s ordeal.
Mercy represents a bold experiment at the intersection of technology and cinema. It combines a star-driven, high-stakes narrative with a groundbreaking visual format designed to redefine the theatrical experience. For fans of science fiction, psychological thrillers, and innovative filmmaking, it is a major event on the 2026 cinematic calendar.
