The future of criminal justice is artificial intelligence—and humanity’s last defense may not be human at all. In Timur Bekmambetov’s “Mercy,” Chris Pratt faces judgment from a machine in a sleek, high-concept thriller that blends courtroom drama, ticking-clock suspense, and dystopian paranoia. The film, presented by Amazon MGM Studios, opens exclusively in theaters on January 23, 2026, filmed for IMAX and designed for 3D.
READ MORE: Fall 2025 Preview: 61 Movies To Watch
Set in the near future, “Mercy” follows a detective (Pratt) accused of murdering his wife and forced to defend himself before an advanced A.I. judge (Rebecca Ferguson)—a system he once helped create. With just 90 minutes to prove his innocence, he’s caught in a battle not only for his life but for the future of human justice itself. The film co-stars Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, and Kylie Rogers, expanding the tense, minimalist world of a justice system governed by algorithms and enforced through cold precision.
Written by Marco van Belle and directed by Bekmambetov—whose flair for kinetic digital storytelling powered “Wanted” and the pioneering computer-screen thriller “Unfriended”—the film is produced by Charles Roven, Robert Amidon, Bekmambetov, and Majd Nassif, with executive producers Mark Moran and Todd Williams. Shot specifically for IMAX, “Mercy” promises a sensory overload of futuristic dread and moral ambiguity, where every second counts and every verdict comes without mercy.
“Mercy” opens in theaters everywhere on January 23, 2026.
