Chris Pratt’s Sci-Fi Action Thriller ‘Mercy’ Hits Digital Streaming

Chris Pratt, known for his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, stars in the sci-fi action thriller Mercy, which is now available for digital streaming just weeks after its theatrical release. The film uses a unique “screenlife” format, presenting the action as if it’s unfolding on a computer screen. Pratt plays a man tied to a chair, facing off against Rebecca Ferguson (from Dune), who portrays an AI judge named Maddox. He has 90 minutes to convince her he didn’t murder his wife.

I just saw that Mercy is already available to rent or buy digitally on platforms like Amazon! It’s only been out in theaters for a little over three weeks, and I’m surprised it’s come to streaming so quickly. The movie stars Chris Pratt and features Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, and a bunch of other great actors. I’ve heard the reactions to it have been all over the place, so I’m really curious to check it out and see what everyone’s talking about. You can find the official story details and read about why people have such different opinions on it below.

A detective named Chris Pratt finds himself on trial for his wife’s murder. He has just 90 minutes to convince the highly intelligent A.I. Judge, Rebecca Ferguson—a system he previously supported—that he’s innocent, or it will decide he’s guilty.

‘Mercy’ Is Surely Destined to Become a Streaming Hit

Amazon MGM Studios

Despite an intriguing premise, the action thriller Mercy received largely negative reviews, earning a 24% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Although it wasn’t a box office success – earning only $53 million with a $60 million budget – the film surprisingly resonated with general audiences, currently holding an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter, indicating a significant difference in critical and audience reception.

Director Timur Bekmambetov’s latest film, Mercy, has received negative reviews, particularly for its unusual and isolating style. Bekmambetov previously directed a poorly received screenlife version of War of the Worlds for Amazon. Critics found Mercy to be a slow and frustrating techno-thriller that doesn’t effectively utilize its stars, with some even admitting it was boring enough to make them want to stop watching. Mark Keizer of MovieWeb expressed his disappointment, hoping this marks the end of films that simply show a well-known actor sitting alone for an hour and a half.

Mercy is the second, and likely final, film in a recent series starring a well-known actor largely confined to a chair. Like last year’s oddly compelling Amazon commercial featuring Ice Cube, it’s a disappointing and forgettable movie. Both films were produced by Timur Bekmambetov, who seems determined to explore the unusual ‘screenlife’ thriller format – where the audience watches characters looking at screens themselves.

Despite mixed reviews from critics, audiences loved Mercy, calling it “Pratt-tastic” and praising it as a thrilling and exciting mystery. Because of this positive response, Mercy is expected to be a popular streaming choice for fans of sci-fi action, and a sequel is likely to be announced soon.

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2026-02-18 15:32

‘Mercy’ Is Surely Destined to Become a Streaming Hit

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