Mercy

Synopsis

Set in the near future, a detective accused of murdering his wife has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to an advanced AI judge. Action, Crime, Drama

Mercy – Review

Mercy is a 2026 American sci‑fi thriller directed by Timur Bekmambetov and starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. In a near‑future Los Angeles, a police detective finds himself accused of his wife’s murder and must use an artificial intelligence judge system to prove his innocence within 90 minutes—or face execution. The story blends futuristic tech, surveillance‑heavy investigation, and real‑time tension.

Concept: The film explores big ideas about AI in the legal system, surveillance, and justice, with the protagonist forced to race against the clock using digital evidence and data to save his life.

Reception: Critics overall reacted negatively; reviews point to a derivative plot that borrows heavily from earlier sci‑fi (like Minority Report), unoriginal execution, and a storyline that struggles to deliver dramatic payoff despite an intriguing setup. Ratings on review aggregators are low, and many critics found the narrative and filmmaking disappointing.

Audience response: Some viewers find it entertaining and tense, especially as a popcorn thriller with its ticking‑clock structure, even if the concept doesn’t fully pay off.

Overall:

Mercy has a clever central idea and a high‑concept sci‑fi premise, but its execution is uneven—strong world‑building and a relevant theme are weighed down by predictable plotting and mixed performances. It’s an ambitious thriller that doesn’t quite live up to its potential.