Pratt's Sci-Fi Thriller Tops Box Office

Chris Pratt's sci-fi thriller 'Mercy' is a film that talks about a human's battle with Artificial Intelligence. The film released in India on 23 January 2026 in English and Hindi, filmed for IMAX and presented in 3D for an immersive theatrical experience. The film is produced by Atlas Entertainment and Bazelevs.

It has beaten James Cameron's 'Avatar: Fire And Ash by collecting $11.2 million in its North American debut. A newly released trailer offered a gripping first look at the near-future world of Mercy, where artificial intelligence governs every aspect of justice. Chris Pratt stars as a detective who finds himself on the wrong side of the system he helped create.

Accused of murdering his wife, he is forced to defend himself before an unyielding A.I. Judge — portrayed on-screen with chilling precision by Rebecca Ferguson. With just 90 minutes to prove his innocence, he must outwit the machine that once earned his trust before it determines his fate.

The film features a strong ensemble cast including Annabelle Wallis, Kali Reis, Chris Sullivan, Kylie Rogers, Jeff Pierre, Rafi Gavron, Jamie McBride, and Kenneth Choi. Written by Marco van Belle and produced by Charles Roven, Robert Amidon, and Majd Nassif, Mercy blends sci-fi tension with the urgency of a ticking-clock legal drama.

Hollywood kicked off 2026 with “Avatar: Fire and Ash” atop the box office for the third straight week and with hopes for a blockbuster-filled year after a disappointing 2025.

In three weeks of release, “Fire and Ash” has cleared $1 billion worldwide. The third chapter in James Cameron’s Pandora epic collected $40 million over its third weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Fire and Ash is doing its biggest business overseas; its grossed $777.1 million internationally thus far. The Walt Disney Co. on Sunday trumped the $1 billion milestone as “cementing another monumental achievement for James Cameron’s groundbreaking franchise.”