Club Benefits
January has long been considered the “dump month” of the year, where studios release films they expect to underperform, saving bigger titles for the summer or holiday seasons. 2026 only reinforces that pattern, with releases like “Return to Silent Hill” and “Killer Whale” struggling at the box office.
But that doesn’t mean January movies aren’t worth streaming at all, since “Mercy” is one release that could actually be worth your time, and it's currently sitting at No. 1 on Prime Video. It was made on a roughly $60 million budget but only grossed around $54 million worldwide during its theatrical run, meaning it didn’t recoup its production costs at the box office before heading to digital platforms.
“Mercy” is a sci-fi thriller starring Chris Pratt as a police officer accused of murdering his wife, who must prove his innocence in a high‑tech court governed by an AI judge. The film’s real interest is watching how a system designed to be infallible responds to a case that challenges it.
Article continues belowNow that “Mercy” has claimed the top spot in Prime Video’s top 10, you might be wondering whether it’s worth adding to your watchlist. Here’s everything to know about this sci‑fi thriller before you commit to watching.
What is ‘Mercy’ about?
In a near-future Los Angeles, detective Chris Raven (Pratt) awakens restrained in a high-tech courtroom, accused of murdering his wife, Nicole (Annabelle Wallis). With no clear memory of the crime, he is forced to stand trial before an advanced artificial intelligence judge he once helped bring into the justice system.
The court operates at extreme speed, giving him just 90 minutes to investigate, reconstruct events, and prove his innocence. As the countdown begins, Raven has to dig through surveillance footage, bodycam recordings, and digital communications, piecing together the final hours before his wife’s death.
Every reveal reshapes the narrative and complicates the truth, while the AI judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson) evaluates every claim in real time, moving toward a final verdict that will determine Raven’s fate.
Should you stream ‘Mercy’ on Prime Video?
“Mercy” is a movie you have to go into with the right expectations. This sci‑fi thriller is by no means a great movie, or even a good one, but it works as simple entertainment for an evening when you need something easy to digest. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, “Mercy” leans heavily on its core AI concept: a fully automated judicial system with an AI judge that decides a defendant’s fate. You’re essentially watching how artificial intelligence functions as a judge in a near‑future legal scenario.
Perhaps the best part of “Mercy” is that it mostly plays out in real time, with much of its 90-minute runtime hinging on the ticking clock as Chris struggles to prove his innocence. The film manages to craft a convincing vision of life in a fully digital age. It can be clever and entertaining because of its themes around AI, with playful twists, though the climactic surge into non-stop action veers a bit too far into absurdity.
Films with a simple premise and short runtime make for good streaming viewing, and there’s a reason “Mercy” is performing better on streaming than in theaters: it works as a quick, digestible thriller. However, genre fans might find it lacking in memorable impact, as the story eventually collapses into incoherent, overcomplicated nonsense, with Pratt and Ferguson underutilized in their roles.
That’s shown in its 25% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus being: “Constricting its two stars inside an airless presentation of a clunky techno-thriller premise, Mercy is tedious enough to make you cry uncle.” As mentioned, “Mercy” is worth streaming on Prime Video if you’re looking for simple entertainment and go in with low expectations, but it’s not a high-quality movie. It’s more of a popcorn-level or background viewing experience, especially for viewers intrigued by AI pitted against mankind.
Stream "Mercy" on Prime Video now
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
