Directed by Timur Bekmambetov.
Mercy was released in theaters on January 23, 2026.
Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios (US/Canada); Sony Pictures International (intl).
Mercy (2026) Movie Review
Mercy (2026) is a sci-fi thriller set in a near future where an AI system decides guilt or innocence in court.
The story follows a detective who must prove he is innocent within ninety minutes while facing a cold, emotionless digital judge.
The idea is interesting and feels relevant to today’s fears about technology and justice.
Some performances are strong and the tension works in places.
However, the movie struggles with weak writing and rushed storytelling.
While Mercy raises important questions about fairness and control, it does not fully deliver as a gripping or memorable film.
IMDb – 6.2/10.
CR Rating – 7/10.
Mercy (2026) Actors
Chris Pratt as Det. Christopher “Chris” Raven
DOB: June 21, 1979.
Bio: American actor who transitioned from television comedy to global stardom, first gaining wide recognition on Parks and Recreation before becoming a leading man in major franchises.
His breakthrough came with Guardians of the Galaxy, followed by the Jurassic World films, establishing him as one of Hollywood’s most bankable action stars.
Role: Detective Christopher “Chris” Raven is a homicide detective who becomes the prime suspect in his wife’s murder and is forced into a near-future justice system where cases are decided by an AI judge known as the Mercy program.
With only a short window to prove his innocence, Raven must confront both procedural logic and deeply personal truths.
Interesting facts: Director Timur Bekmambetov has described the role as more restrained and emotionally demanding than Pratt’s typical action work.
Notable works: Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World trilogy, The Tomorrow War, Moneyball, Parks and Recreation.
Rebecca Ferguson as Judge Maddox (the Mercy AI)
DOB: October 19, 1983.
Bio: Swedish actor who rose to international prominence with The White Queen before becoming a major franchise presence as Ilsa Faust in the Mission: Impossible films.
She is widely known for portraying intelligent, controlled characters with emotional depth, often balancing strength with quiet vulnerability.
Role: Judge Maddox is the AI interface of the Mercy program, the near-future judicial system responsible for analyzing evidence, testimony, and behavioral data to deliver rapid verdicts.
Ferguson provides the performance that gives the system its human-facing presence, delivering rulings with measured calm and unsettling precision.
Interesting facts: Rather than presenting the AI as purely mechanical, the film gives Maddox a composed, almost serene demeanor, heightening the unease of its authority.
Notable works: Mission: Impossible series, Dune: Part One and Part Two, The White Queen, The Girl on the Train, Doctor Sleep.
Kali Reis as Jacqueline “Jaq” Diallo
DOB: August 24, 1986.
Bio: American actor and former world champion boxer who transitioned into film with critically praised performances that emphasize emotional realism and physical authority.
She gained major attention for Catch the Fair One, establishing herself as a compelling dramatic presence, particularly in roles that demand toughness grounded in lived experience.
Role: Jacqueline “Jaq” Diallo is Chris Raven’s LAPD partner, a steady, pragmatic detective who operates firmly in the real world as the case spirals into the high-stakes machinery of the Mercy AI system.
Jaq functions as Raven’s human anchor: loyal, skeptical, and guided by instinct rather than algorithms.
Interesting facts: Reis’s athletic background informs the character’s physical confidence and controlled intensity, lending authenticity to Jaq’s presence without exaggeration.
Notable works: Catch the Fair One, True Detective: Night Country, Black Flies.
Annabelle Wallis as Nicole Raven
DOB: September 5, 1984.
Bio: English actor known for work across television and mainstream film, with notable roles in historical drama, horror, and action franchises.
Her performances often center on emotionally layered characters whose personal relationships shape larger narratives.
Role: Nicole Raven is the wife of Detective Chris Raven, whose death becomes the catalyst for the events of Mercy.
Appearing through flashbacks and reconstructed evidence sequences, Nicole’s presence complicates the narrative by revealing fragments of the Ravens’ marriage that inform both the investigation and the AI’s judgment.
Interesting facts: Wallis’s scenes are crucial for the film’s emotional weight; reviews mention the film’s reliance on those domestic moments to humanize the tech premise.
Notable works: Peaky Blinders, Annabelle, The Mummy (2017), Malignant.
Chris Sullivan as Robert “Rob” Nelson
DOB: July 19, 1980.
Bio: American actor and musician known for emotionally grounded character work across television and film.
He gained wide recognition for his role on This Is Us and earlier acclaim for The Knick, often portraying empathetic, quietly influential figures who anchor ensemble stories.
Role: Robert “Rob” Nelson is Chris Raven’s Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor and a trusted presence in his personal life.
Positioned outside the law-enforcement and AI systems driving the plot, Rob represents human accountability and compassion in contrast to the film’s algorithmic justice.
Interesting facts: Sullivan’s reliable scene-stealing turns were flagged in early reviews as a highlight among supporting players.
Notable works: This Is Us, The Knick, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Kylie Rogers as Britt Raven
DOB: February 18, 2004.
Bio: American actress who began her career as a child performer and built recognition through emotionally driven roles in film and television.
She is known for her early work in The Whispers, Miracles from Heaven, and for portraying a young Beth Dutton in Yellowstone, consistently bringing naturalism and sensitivity to youth-centered characters.
Role: Britt Raven is the daughter of Chris and Nicole Raven.
Her situation represents the personal cost of the film’s central accusation, grounding the high-concept AI trial in family consequences.
Interesting facts: Critics noted that the film needs Britt’s emotional threads to land the audience’s empathy; Rogers carries that responsibility well.
Notable works: Miracles from Heaven, Yellowstone (young Beth Dutton), The Whispers, Collateral Beauty.
Kenneth Choi as Ray Vale
DOB: October 20, 1971.
Bio: American actor with a long-running career across film and television, widely recognized for his versatility in both dramatic and character-driven supporting roles.
He has appeared in prestige dramas, major studio films, and franchise projects, often portraying law enforcement officers, professionals, or figures of institutional authority with grounded realism.
Role: Ray Vale is a figure within the law-enforcement and procedural framework surrounding Chris Raven’s case.
His presence helps establish the professional ecosystem in which the investigation and trial unfold, adding human texture to the bureaucratic processes that intersect with the film’s AI-driven justice system.
Interesting facts: Choi brings steady, lived-in credibility to the supporting ensemble.
Notable works: The Wolf of Wall Street, Sons of Anarchy, Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Rafi Gavron as Holt Charles
DOB: May 28, 1989.
Bio: British actor with a career spanning independent film, studio features, and television.
He first gained recognition in youth-driven indie projects before moving into higher-profile ensemble films.
Role: Holt Charles is a co-worker of Nicole Raven whose testimony and presence in the evidentiary record add complexity to the central case.
As the AI-driven trial examines motive, personal relationships, and context, Holt becomes part of the human web the Mercy system must interpret.
Interesting facts: Gavron’s small but key role is part of the film’s puzzle structure; reviewers note the film’s attempt to use a wide net of supporting testimony.
Notable works: A Star Is Born, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Breaking and Entering.
Jeff Pierre as Patrick Burke
DOB: May 21, 1986.
Bio: American television and film actor who has steadily built a career through recurring and supporting roles in drama series.
He’s known for grounded, naturalistic performances that fit ensemble storytelling, particularly in procedurals and character-driven shows.
Role: Patrick Burke is one of the individuals connected to Nicole Raven in the period leading up to her death.
His involvement becomes part of the evidentiary web examined during the Mercy system’s accelerated trial, where even peripheral relationships are scrutinized for motive and context.
Interesting facts: Pierre has built a career on strong supporting turns; his casting was announced in press roundups for the film.
Notable works: Shameless, Beyond, Walker.
Tom Rezvan as Governor
DOB: June 19, 1976.
Bio: Tom Rezvan is an actor and former professional surfer with a range of independent and commercial film and television credits.
He brings grounded presence to supporting roles, adding authenticity to scenes requiring authority or real-world texture.
Role: Governor is a small but visible supporting role that appears in the film’s political and administrative sequences.
Rezvan’s character illustrates how the Mercy program is integrated into state structures, reinforcing the narrative that the trial is not just personal but also socially and politically consequential.
Interesting facts: Rezvan’s presence adds real-world, local political texture to a film dominated by tech spectacle and personal crisis.
Notable works: Various TV and indie credits.
More Actors
• Jamie McBride as Dan Vogel.
• Mark Daneri as Nicole’s Father.
• Haydn Dalton as Bill Peterson.
• Noah Fearnley as Tattooed Sleazebag.
FAQ – Mercy (2026) Movie
What is Mercy (2026) about?
Mercy (2026) is a sci-fi thriller about a detective who must prove his innocence in a 90-minute AI-controlled trial after being accused of murdering his wife.
Why is the movie set in 2029?
Mercy is set in a near-future Los Angeles (2029) where an AI system runs the justice process and hands down verdicts in real time.
What does the AI judge represent in the movie?
Judge Maddox is an AI judicial program designed to process evidence and issue sentences immediately; the film uses her to question the limits and dangers of automation in human systems.
How long is the movie?
Mercy has a runtime of about 100 minutes.
Where can I watch Mercy (2026)?
Mercy is currently only available in movie theaters following its wide release on January 23, 2026, where you can see it in standard screenings, IMAX and 3D formats.
Conclusion
Mercy (2026) stands out for its timely and thought-provoking concept, exploring the dangers of letting artificial intelligence control justice.
While the film features committed performances and a tense setup, it falls short due to uneven pacing and a weak script.
Mercy works best as a cautionary tale about technology and power rather than a fully satisfying thriller.
It is worth a watch for sci-fi fans interested in ethical questions, but viewers should temper expectations when it comes to storytelling depth and emotional impact.