Chris Pratt’s sci-fi thriller Mercy has ended Avatar: Fire and Ash’s five-week reign atop the US box office, debuting with $11.2 million despite harsh winter storms closing theaters nationwide. Nur Bekmambetov is the director of the dystopian movie, in which Pratt is a detective facing an AI judge in the form of Rebecca Ferguson in a courtroom drama in the near future. As Avatar fell 50 percent to $7 million, Mercy, released by Amazon MGM Studios, had the luxury of capitalizing on the slowest weekend number of 2026 to date, and a total of just $60 million. Avatar: Fire and As is doing well with A 378 million at the domestic and 1.37 billion worldwide, however, following the foot tracks of billions of previous films. Mercy received a 20% score on Rotten Tomatoes and B- CinemaScore amongst audiences and it casts doubt on its budget recovery of $60 million. This change underscores post-holiday box office problems.
Box Office Projections Impact
Box office projections positioned Mercy to surpass Avatar: Fire and Ash due to natural declines, not blockbuster appeal. Weather in the winter reduced attendance but Mercy was the leader on a bad frame that decreased by 9% compared to 2025.
Sci-Fi Thriller Momentum
Sci-fi thriller Mercy faces legs questions with mixed reception, while Avatar nears $400 million domestic. Future Amazon publications such as Project Hail Mary hang large.
Disclaimer: Stay updated with the latest news in Entertainment, from politics to business trends, while also catching up on the latest news in sports covering matches, scores, and tournaments. Explore the latest news in entertainment with celebrity updates, movies, and shows, and don’t miss the latest news in games, featuring trending releases and esports highlights.
