Mercy, the latest sci‑fi thriller starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, is set for a stiff box‑office showdown in its release weekend. Industry projections put the film’s domestic opening in the range of ten to thirteen million dollars from roughly 3,400 North American theaters. Those numbers could be enough to push Mercy into the number one spot this weekend, displacing the long‑running Avatar: Fire and Ash, which has led the box office for five straight weeks.
Avatar: Fire and Ash remains a global powerhouse, dominating theaters through the holiday season and into January with sustained audience interest. Despite the sequel’s massive overall haul, its weekly earnings have declined as is typical later in a film’s run. Analysts see Mercy’s release timing — with few new wide‑release competitors — as a strategic opportunity to capture the top domestic spot, even if its total gross may be more modest than larger franchise blockbusters.
The narrative of Mercy takes place in a near‑future Los Angeles where artificial intelligence runs the justice system. Pratt portrays police detective Chris Raven, who becomes the subject of a high‑stakes AI trial after being accused of murdering his wife. The film blends procedural intensity with sci‑fi action, but early critical reactions have been polarized. Some reviews praise its ambitious premise and immersive storytelling, while others find the execution flat, derivative, or overly reliant on screens and digital gimmicks.
As audiences weigh in over the weekend, box‑office trackers will be watching closely to see if Mercy can capitalize on January’s quieter release calendar and claim a rare victory over one of the year’s biggest tent poles.