Mercy (2026): Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson Star in a High-Stakes Sci-Fi Thriller Where an AI Judge Controls Your Fate

If 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for theatrical sci-fi, Mercy is one of the most intriguing new releases on the calendar. Starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, and directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the film blends action, suspense, and a near-future moral dilemma into a ticking-clock thriller that feels ripped from tomorrow’s headlines.

At its core, Mercy asks a chilling question: What happens when justice is automated—and the system you trusted decides you’re guilty?

A Near-Future Premise with a Brutal Countdown

Set in Los Angeles in 2029, Mercy follows a detective who finds himself in the worst position imaginable: on trial for murdering his wife.

The twist? He’s not facing a traditional court.

He has just 90 minutes to prove his innocence to an advanced AI judge, part of a program he once supported—before it determines his fate.

That countdown structure immediately gives Mercy its intensity. This isn’t a slow burn procedural. It’s a pressure cooker where every minute matters, every piece of evidence becomes life-or-death, and the “truth” may depend on what an algorithm chooses to believe.

Chris Pratt in a Different Kind of Action Role

Chris Pratt plays Detective Chris Raven, a character positioned as both investigator and accused.

Pratt has built a strong resume in action and sci-fi, but Mercy appears to lean more into panic, urgency, and psychological stakes than pure heroism. He’s not fighting aliens or saving the galaxy—he’s fighting the system, the clock, and a reality where “innocent until proven guilty” can be replaced by “predicted to be guilty.”

That’s a timely setup in an era where AI is increasingly used to influence decision-making in real life—whether in hiring, credit, surveillance, or legal systems.

Rebecca Ferguson as the Film’s Coldest Weapon

Rebecca Ferguson plays Judge Maddox, an AI tied to the Mercy program.

Ferguson is known for commanding roles that mix intelligence with emotional intensity, and Mercy gives her a conceptually fascinating character: an authority figure that may not be human, but still holds absolute power.

That creates a uniquely modern kind of villainy (or at least opposition): something that can’t be persuaded, intimidated, or appealed to emotionally—because it isn’t a person.

And that’s where the tension gets brutal: if the judge is “just following logic,” what happens when the logic is flawed?

A Strong Supporting Cast for a High-Concept Thriller

Beyond Pratt and Ferguson, Mercy features a cast that suggests the film is aiming for something weightier than a standard sci-fi action ride:

Annabelle Wallis as Nicole Raven (Chris Raven’s wife)
Kylie Rogers as Britt Raven (his daughter)
Kali Reis as Jacqueline “JAQ” Diallo
Chris Sullivan, plus additional supporting players

That lineup hints that the film won’t be purely procedural—it will likely include emotional stakes rooted in family, memory, and loss, which makes the thriller mechanics hit harder.

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov: A Style Built for Momentum

Timur Bekmambetov is a director known for kinetic pacing and visually driven storytelling, making him a fitting choice for a movie built around real-time pressure.

That combination—Bekmambetov’s urgency-driven style with a tight 90-minute courtroom countdown—positions Mercy as a film that could play like a blockbuster thriller and a tech-paranoia drama at the same time.

In other words: fast, but not empty.

A Theatrical Release Built for Premium Formats

One thing that stands out immediately: Mercy is scheduled for theatrical release in the U.S. on January 23, 2026, and it’s being positioned as a premium-format experience, including 3D and IMAX.

That matters, because Mercy is not being treated like a small January programmer. It’s being released like a movie that’s meant to feel big—high tension, immersive visuals, and that “you have to see this in theaters” intensity.

The Score: Ramin Djawadi Adds Serious Firepower

Another major signal that Mercy is aiming high: the film’s score is composed by Ramin Djawadi, a name associated with epic, emotionally propulsive music.

A strong score matters especially in a thriller like this, because tension lives and dies in pacing. The music can turn a simple countdown into a full-body anxiety experience.

Why Mercy Could Hit a Cultural Nerve in 2026

The most effective sci-fi doesn’t just imagine the future—it exaggerates the present.

Mercy taps into anxieties audiences already recognize:

AI systems making irreversible choices
Institutions outsourcing “truth” to data
The fear of being misjudged by an algorithm
The breakdown of human empathy in decision-making

The story isn’t just “man vs. machine.” It’s man vs. the idea of fairness itself—and whether “justice” still exists when no humans are left in charge.

How to Watch Mercy in Spanish at the Movie Theater

For Spanish-speaking audiences—or anyone who wants to experience the movie in Spanish—there’s a simple option that works in theaters: TheaterEars.

With the TheaterEars app, moviegoers can listen to the Spanish audio track synced perfectly to the movie while watching Mercy on the big screen. All you need is your phone and headphones.

Download here: https://theaterears.com/download

It’s especially useful when Spanish-dubbed showtimes are limited, because it allows viewers to go to the same showtime with friends or family and still enjoy the film in Spanish.