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Amazon MGM Studios opens its 2026 theatrical slate this weekend with “Mercy,” a Chris Pratt-led sci-fi crime thriller that is tracking for a low double-digit debut while testing how much draw the company can generate outside franchise lanes. Independent forecasts put the film’s domestic opening at roughly $10 million to $12 million, with another industry range stretching to $10 million to $15 million.
That start matters beyond a single title. Exhibitors have pressed Amazon to deliver a steadier flow of wide releases at a time when studios have cut output, and “Mercy” serves as the first of 10 wide releases Amazon MGM has dated for 2026, according to TheWrap. The studio told theater owners at CinemaCon that it aimed for 14 theatrical releases in 2026 and 15 in 2027; Amazon’s own CinemaCon materials listed “Mercy” alongside “Project Hail Mary,” “Verity” and “Masters of the Universe” on its 2026 calendar.
The film’s box-office ceiling looks modest, and the conversation around it reflects that. “Mercy” puts Pratt’s detective on trial in a near-future Los Angeles, bound to a chair and racing a 90-minute countdown while an AI judge, played by Rebecca Ferguson, weighs his fate. Early reviews have not helped: Rotten Tomatoes has posted a critics score in the low 20s in the days ahead of release, a number that can shift quickly as more outlets file.
Analysts also point to the creative track record behind the package. Boxoffice Pro noted director Timur Bekmambetov’s uneven theatrical history and questioned how much Pratt can open as a lead outside pre-sold brands, even as January genre films often play to “quiet” but workable totals. The studio will quickly pivot from this kickoff to bigger swings later in the year, including Ryan Gosling’s “Project Hail Mary” and the live-action “Masters of the Universe,” as Amazon tries to convince theaters it can function like a full-scale distributor again.
