Like Ex Machina (2014), Mercy promises a battle of intellect and control within a restricted setting. Mercy also enters the same territory with a high-stakes confrontation with an AI judge who is to determine human fate.
Our version of the Mercy movie review breaks down whether it is a hit or miss and whether it’s worth spending 99 minutes of your time.
Mercy (2026)
Plot details of Mercy (2026)
Mercy is the story of a detective, Chris Raven (played by Chris Pratt), who has been accused of his wife’s murder. He has 90 minutes to prove to the AI judge, Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson), that he is innocent.
The judge can provide all the details and phone data that are proof of Raven’s whereabouts. The program can access every piece of technology to assist him in the process.
Watch the suspense-soaked trailer here:
Actor’s performances in Mercy (2026)
Clearly, the two notable performances of the film are Chris Pratt’s Chris Raven and Rebecca Ferguson’s Judge Maddox. Where most of the film’s criticism comes towards Pratt being cuffed by his hand, limiting his physical acting opportunities, I feel this was an acting challenge he was presented with in the film.
He had to act through his face and dialogue only, which he described as feeling more like a stage play. He did a great job in portraying a mix of mourning, shame, and fear throughout the film, which also contributes to his character being sunk in confusion.
Ferguson’s character brings a certain level of control and precision in her actions and words, which is precisely what is expected from AI. She is steady, confident, and chilling at the same time. I found it enthralling that, despite being an artificial construct, she feels more human, particularly in the small glitches that suggest genuine reflection.
What do critics add to the Mercy movie review?
The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes is too harsh for Mercy, as it says,
“Constricting its two stars inside an airless presentation of a clunky techno-thriller premise, Mercy is tedious enough to make you cry uncle.” [Source]
Most of the critics agree that the movie does what it was meant to do: a captivating story with an AI judge, even presenting the dangers of AI, but the emotional and psychological escalation was missing. The critics believed it was a “hollow AI thriller” with unnecessary overcomplications and delivered nothing at the end.
Fans’ reaction
A huge contrast in the critics’ and audience scores for the film is a jaw-dropping sight. Viewers are all praise for the film, as they found it fascinating “how the story slowly builds tension without you even realizing it.” The fans loved its fast pace and felt that the film was truly “interesting,” except for a few who complained that the film was boring and they struggled to stay awake.
Is it worth watching?
Though the film had timely themes as a dystopian sci-fi, it fails to rise above mediocrity. Chris Pratt, tied to a chair with an AI judge, never rises beyond the predictable beats of the premise. Cinema has repeatedly proven that a single-location setting is not a limitation. Films such as 12 Angry Men (1957) and Saw (2004) demonstrate how confined spaces can intensify drama and heighten suspense.
Much of Pratt’s performance is given out through his facial expressions, as his handcuffing restrains his ability to use body language and physical expression. Dialogue delivery was the only thing here that he had to rely on, which made his character a bit static, less dynamic, and less engaging.
The trailer initially had done much of the story reveal, leaving little room for genuine surprise and making the film predictable. I knew from the beginning that Pratt’s Chris would outdo Ferguson’s Judge Maddox. The narrative offers new, unexpected turns, but I was unable to connect to any of the characters, pointing to the fact that character dynamics were underexplored.
The only thing that kept me hooked until the end was watching the clock tick down on the 90-minute deadline the judge had given Chris to prove his innocence. It was like a ticking bomb and a crime investigation, which I am a huge fan of, to unravel the real happenings behind the murder of his wife.
In his interview with Entertainment Weekly, Pratt said that he initially suggested to the filmmakers to have a real AI judge to give the real feel and give his character autonomy to pick his own kind of AI judge. For example, it could have an AI ‘Oprah’ running the trial with Chris on screen. He believed it would have been more fun.
Ultimately, the team decided otherwise. But it left me thinking, maybe if the idea had been executed, it could have turned out better. The film offers a compelling glimpse into what life with AI could look like in the future, seeming to be more of an advertisement for the tech companies, but I can confidently say that the world-building around Chris in one room, where he can view the real events happening on a screen, was brilliant.
A high concept of a defendant proving innocence in real time in a claustrophobic thriller couldn’t create an impact as was expected from the trailer. With brisk pacing, the central theme is still fresh and intriguing if we don’t overthink it much.
What we liked
- A high-concept, timely promise
- Strong lead performances
- Effective use of the countdown format
- World-building within a confined space
- Brisk pacing and accessibility
What could be better
- Predictability undermines tension
- Limited emotional and psychological escalation
- Static character dynamics
- Underdeveloped character connections
- Missed creative opportunities
Here is a detailed breakdown of our rating for Mercy (2026):
| Story/plot | 7/10 |
| Characters and acting | 7/10 |
| Direction and pacing | 7/10 |
| Visuals and cinematography | 7/10 |
| Soundtrack/score | 6/10 |
| Themes and message | 5/10 |
| Emotional impact | 4/10 |
| Creativity/originality | 8/10 |
| Rewatchability | 2/10 |
Our rating: 5.5
Is Mercy (2026) available for streaming?
Amazon MGM Studios (2026) (PG-13) slated Mercy for a theatrical release on January 23, 2026. It is now available for rent or purchase as of February 17, 2026, via Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and Apple TV.
Genre: Cyber thriller, action, crime, mystery, sci-fi
IMDb rating: 6.1
Rotten Tomatoes: 25 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and 83 percent on Popcornmeter
Cast: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, Michael C. Mahon
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Writer: Marco van Belle
Producers: Charles Roven, Robert Amidon, Timur Bekmambetov, Majd Nassif
Release date: January 23, 2026
Movie runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes
What’s your rating for Mercy? Let us know below.
About the Author
Passionate Entertainment Writer | Trusted Pop Culture Voice
Madiha Ali is an experienced entertainment writer with over five years of expertise in covering movies, TV shows, celebrity news, and pop culture. Her bylines appear on trusted platforms like Screen Anarchy, High on Films, Ary News, The Express Tribune, Tea and Banter, Show Snob, CelebFeedz, Snapfeedz, Daily Planet Media, The Irish Insider, and Movie Insiderz.
She brings a personal, insightful approach to every story—whether she’s analyzing the emotional layers of a film or giving her take on trending celebrity headlines. Madiha’s writing style is known for being authentic, well-researched, and reader-focused.
When she’s not writing, she’s fully immersed in the world of entertainment—watching new releases, revisiting classics, exploring behind-the-scenes content, or reading books that fuel her creativity. Her passion for storytelling drives her work and helps her stay connected to what matters most in the industry.
Madiha believes great stories start conversations, challenge perspectives, and stay with us long after the credits roll. Through her writing, she continues to share those stories with clarity, depth, and heart.
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