The U.S. domestic box office saw a notable shake‑up this weekend as Mercy, a new sci‑fi thriller starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, debuted atop the charts, ending the five‑week run of James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash. According to early estimates, Mercy grossed about $11 million in its opening weekend, enough to clinch the No. 1 spot despite generally tepid reviews and challenging weather conditions.
While Avatar: Fire and Ash continued to lead the global box office with strong international ticket sales, it fell to second place domestically with an estimated $7 million in its sixth weekend. The James Cameron sequel has now surpassed $1 billion worldwide, though its pace lags behind previous chapters in the franchise.
Industry observers pointed to a major winter storm that swept much of the United States over the weekend, forcing the temporary closure of roughly 250 theaters and contributing to one of the slowest weekends so far in 2026. The overall gross for the top 10 films was markedly soft compared with past weekends.
Mercy’s opening performance underscores the challenges Hollywood faces this season, with smaller crowds and mixed critical reception making box‑office dominance harder to achieve. The film’s $60 million production budget means future weeks will be crucial if it hopes to turn a profit.
Meanwhile, other offerings such as Disney’s Zootopia 2 remain powerful draws, while acclaimed dramas like Marty Supreme and Hamnet continue to hold attention well into their runs, highlighting a diverse cinematic landscape even amid a sluggish weekend.