Mercy (2026) – AI on Trial, But Is the Movie Guilty or Innocent?

AI is everywhere right now. It's writing emails, making art, and apparently, judging murder cases. Mercy takes this hot-button topic and runs with it, dropping us into a near future where an advanced AI decides your fate in 90 minutes flat. No appeals. No second chances. Just you, a chair, and a digital judge. It's a cool premise, and for a while, it works. But does the movie deliver on its promise, or does it end up on the wrong side of the verdict? Let's break it down.

The Plot: 90 Minutes to Prove You're Innocent

The setup is simple and effective. In the near future, the justice system has been streamlined—radically. An advanced AI, simply called The Judge (Rebecca Ferguson) , now presides over criminal cases. If the AI determines you are highly likely guilty, you're strapped into a chair and given exactly 90 minutes to present evidence proving your innocence. Fail, and execution is immediate.

Enter Detective Mike Mercer (Chris Pratt) , a cop who once championed this very AI system. Now, he's the one in the chair, accused of murdering his wife. The clock is ticking. He has 90 minutes to convince the machine he once trusted that he's innocent. The movie unfolds in real-time (mostly), following his desperate race to gather evidence, confront witnesses, and uncover the truth before time runs out.

My Take: A Solid One-Time Watch That Plays It Safe

I watched Mercy and enjoyed it well enough. It's a good movie to show us a possible future use of AI and serves as a kind of warning about putting too much trust in cold, unfeeling technology. The real-time tension works, and Chris Pratt does his usual likable everyman thing, even when strapped to an execution chair.

But here's the thing: it's not that simple when you look at the bigger picture. The movie reminded me a lot of Minority Report—that same blend of sci-fi, action, and a warning about technology running amok. But Mercy doesn't bring anything particularly new or surprising to the table. It hits the beats you expect, delivers some decent action, and wraps up in a tidy 99 minutes.

What works: The premise is genuinely intriguing. Rebecca Ferguson's voice as The Judge is cold, calm, and unsettling—she adds a layer of tension even when just speaking. The 90-minute countdown creates real urgency.

What doesn't: The movie plays it safe. For a film about a radical AI justice system, it never quite dives deep enough into the philosophical questions it raises. Is AI justice truly impartial, or does it just automate human biases? The film gestures at these ideas but never fully commits. The action is fine but forgettable. It's a movie you watch once, nod along with, and probably forget in a week.

Ratings: The Critics vs. The Audience Divide

• IMDb: 6.1/10 (from 18,000 users)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 24% Critics / 83% Audience
• Budget/Box Office: $60 million budget, $53 million worldwide

This is where things get interesting. The critics hated it—a brutal 24% on RT. Their complaints? Derivative script, underdeveloped ideas, and a premise that promises more than it delivers. But audiences liked it—83% positive. That's a massive gap. General viewers seem to enjoy the tense premise, Pratt's performance, and the straightforward thriller elements, even if critics wanted more depth.

Financially, it's a disappointment. Grossing $53 million against a $60 million budget means it's likely a money-loser for Amazon MGM. Not a disaster, but not a success either.

Final Verdict: A Decent One-Time Streaming Pick

My rating is 6 out of 10. Mercy is a movie to watch once. It has some action, some thought-provoking story elements, and a cool central idea. But it's nothing too surprising or too new. If you've seen Minority Report, you've basically seen this movie's spiritual cousin. It's a decent way to spend 99 minutes, especially if you're curious about AI ethics and enjoy tense thrillers. But it's not essential viewing.

Recommendation: Stream it if you're a Chris Pratt fan or enjoy futuristic crime thrillers. Don't expect deep philosophical insights—just a solid, forgettable action-sci-fi mashup.

What did you think of Mercy? Does AI justice scare you more than human judges? And why do you think critics and audiences disagreed so strongly on this one? Let me know in the comments!

And suggest a movie for my next review! I'm in the mood for a sci-fi film that actually surprised me.

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See also My full list of 2026 movie reviews →