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Mercy’ Opens to Harsh Reviews as AI Courtroom Thriller Hits Theaters

Weak writing and an uneasy take on AI justice have yielded low scores and a modest box-office outlook.

Overview

  • The film opened nationwide Friday from Amazon MGM, with Chris Pratt facing Rebecca Ferguson’s AI judge in a 90-minute, real-time trial setup.
  • Rotten Tomatoes shows a 22% critics’ score based on 93 reviews, while Metacritic sits in the mid-30s as more notices post.
  • Reviewers frequently fault the script and direction and question the movie’s stance on AI-powered surveillance and judicial systems.
  • Pre-release tracking points to a projected $10–13 million North American debut, described as a soft start for the studio’s theatrical slate.
  • Some notices cite inventive visuals or entertaining twists, yet many argue the screen-focused ‘screenlife’ format feels better suited to streaming than IMAX.