Chris Pratt's 'Mercy' Kicks Off with $1.5M in Previews, Aims for No. 1 Debut

Amazon MGM Studios' dystopian thriller Mercy, starring Chris Pratt, launched with $1.5 million in Thursday previews. Its projected three-day domestic opening is estimated at $12 million to $15 million, potentially securing the No. 1 spot against Avatar: Fire and Ash.

A widespread winter storm across the U.S. could impact these box office figures.

About 'Mercy'

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Mercy also features Rebecca Ferguson. The film centers on a detective (Pratt) on trial for his wife's murder, needing to prove his innocence to an advanced AI judge within 90 minutes.

The thriller is making a significant international push this weekend, opening in 80 territories, including Australia, Germany, the UK, and Japan. Industry comparisons suggest Mercy's box office potential aligns with other action films like A Working Man and Den of Thieves: Pantera, which typically perform well in European and Middle Eastern markets.

Critically, Mercy has received a low score of 23% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Other Weekend Releases & Expansions

Cineverse also released Return to Silent Hill this weekend across 1,830 theaters. Early projections for this title are in the low- to mid-single digits. Like Mercy, Return to Silent Hill also faces critical hurdles, scoring 15% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Meanwhile, Focus Features' Hamnet, following its impressive eight Oscar nominations, is expanding its theatrical run. It will now be available in 1,983 locations, up from 718. The film has already accumulated $15.6 million domestically and over $13 million internationally, with expectations for continued global box office growth.

Winter Storm Threatens Box Office

A developing winter storm is set to impact the U.S., with ice and freezing rain anticipated from Texas to New England. Major metropolitan areas such as New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia could experience significant snowfall, posing a potential threat to weekend attendance figures across all films.