A slick, high-concept sci-fi thriller with a strong central premise and a contained real-time structure, but the response suggests it’s uneven, tonally suspect, and more interesting as an idea than as a fully satisfying film. If you like courtroom pressure-cookers, AI paranoia, and star-driven genre pieces, it may… Read more
6% ☆☆☆☆☆ (245,935)
Mercy
Where to watch: Amazon
Movie · Science Fiction · Action · PG-13
2026 · 1h 39m · ★ 6% (245.9K)
Prove your innocence to an AI judge or face execution.
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Kali Reis
Overview
In the near future, a detective stands on trial accused of murdering his wife. He has ninety minutes to prove his innocence to the advanced AI Judge he once championed, before it determines his fate.
Director
Timur Bekmambetov
Production
Atlas Entertainment, Amazon MGM Studios, Bazelevs
Cast
Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Kali Reis, Kylie Rogers, Chris Sullivan, Jeff Pierre, Annabelle Wallis, Rafi Gavron, Kenneth Choi, Jamie McBride, Ross Gosla, Mark Daneri, Haydn Dalton, Michael C. Mahon, Noah Fearnley, Konstantin Podprugin, Cully Pratt, Philicia Saunders, Renata Ribeiro, Mahmoud Mahmoud
Where to watch
Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM Plus, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A slick, high-concept sci-fi thriller with a strong central premise and a contained real-time structure, but the response suggests it’s uneven, tonally suspect, and more interesting as an idea than as a fully satisfying film. If you like courtroom pressure-cookers, AI paranoia, and star-driven genre pieces, it may still be worth a look; if you’re sensitive to clunky messaging or thinly written spectacle, skip it.
Best for
Viewers who enjoy single-location thrillers and ticking-clock setups
Fans of AI dystopia and techno-paranoia
People who like performance-driven genre films with minimal action
Audiences curious about near-future courtroom sci-fi
Skip if
You want sharp, nuanced writing about AI ethics
You dislike heavy-handed or propagandistic messaging
You need big action set pieces from your sci-fi thrillers
You’re put off by films that feel more gimmick than drama
Overview
Mercy is built on a clean, high-concept hook: a detective on trial, ninety minutes to save himself, and an AI judge deciding whether human judgment still matters. That kind of premise can be catnip for thriller fans, especially when the film leans into confinement, urgency, and moral ambiguity. The setup promises a tight, procedural pressure cooker with a futuristic edge.
Worth noting
The reaction around it suggests the execution is more divisive than the concept. Some viewers found it taut and entertaining, with the cast doing a lot of heavy lifting in a mostly dialogue-bound format. Others saw a glossy, overdirected piece of tech anxiety that lands its message awkwardly and seems unsure whether it wants to warn against AI or sell it.
Bottom line
As a Curator TV pick, this looks like a watchable but flawed genre exercise rather than a must-see. If you’re in the mood for a contained sci-fi thriller with a courtroom spine and you don’t mind some rough edges, it can probably hold your attention. If you want the premise to pay off with real thematic bite, you may come away frustrated.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Chris 🦈 (1★) · 5777 likes
They were nice enough to literally put a timer in the corner of this movie letting you know how much longer you have to sit through this piece of shit.
Jake (0.5★) · 4679 likes
can watching a movie make you a worse person?
Joe A (0.5★) · 4608 likes
100 minutes of Chris Pratt overacting, cut to a mewing Rebecca Ferguson staring down the barrel of the camera with no dialogue, “AI makes mistakes too you guys :/“ pro-ai copaganda ass movie. Edit: very funny that the poster has Pratt wielding a shotgun as he never actually uses one in the movie.
jonathan fujii (1★) · 3473 likes
Yoooooooo a pro AI movie where Chris Pratt sits in a chair for 90 minutes?!🤑🤑🤑🤑🔥🔥🔥🔥