Mercy (2026) Movie Review – Where to Watch Online
If you’re searching for “Watch Mercy (2026) movie online”, this is your complete guide — a review plus where you can stream, rent, or buy it in the United States right now.
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov and written by Marco van Belle, Mercy (2026) is a near-future AI courtroom thriller built around a powerful premise:
A detective accused of murdering his wife has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to an advanced AI judge — or face execution.
It’s high-concept. It’s timely. It’s provocative.
But does it deliver?
Let’s break it down.
What Is Mercy (2026) About?
Set in a dystopian near future, the justice system has evolved — or devolved — into something radical. The Mercy Capital Court is powered entirely by artificial intelligence. It acts as judge, jury, and executioner.
Detective Chris Raven, one of the architects who once championed this AI system, now finds himself strapped to a chair inside it.
He’s accused of brutally murdering his wife.
He has 90 minutes to lower his “Guilty Probability” score — displayed in real time — below the execution threshold.
The twist? The judge is an AI named Maddox.
And it doesn’t care about emotions.
The Screenlife Approach: Bold but Fatiguing
Mercy uses the “screenlife” storytelling format — meaning much of the movie unfolds through screens, surveillance feeds, video calls, and digital interfaces.
This technique has worked effectively in films like Unfriended, Host, and Missing.
But here?
It’s hit or miss.
On one hand, the real-time 90-minute countdown creates built-in tension. Watching data streams, police drones, body cams, and social media feeds piece together a crime has modern urgency.
On the other hand, after about halfway through, the format starts to feel repetitive. It becomes 100 minutes of Chris Pratt reacting to screens while physically restrained.
In theory, it’s claustrophobic and intense.
In execution, it can feel static and exhausting.
The Core Concept: Justice Controlled by AI
This is where the movie should have soared.
The idea of handing judicial power to an algorithm is chillingly plausible. The film briefly touches on:
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Government surveillance.
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Loss of privacy.
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Algorithmic bias.
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Social scoring.
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State-controlled justice.
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AI replacing human subjectivity.
But here’s the problem — it never dives deep enough.
The themes are introduced, teased, then brushed aside in favor of chase sequences and plot twists. There’s an opportunity to explore systemic bias and human fallibility in algorithmic systems… but it stays surface-level.
At times, the film even appears oddly pro-surveillance, which may alienate viewers expecting a more critical dystopian stance.
Chris Pratt in a Serious Role
Chris Pratt takes on the role of Chris Raven, and this is where reactions are sharply divided.
Pratt is undeniably charismatic in comedic roles. His physical presence shines in franchise action films. But here, he’s immobilized for much of the runtime — strapped to a chair, reacting emotionally rather than physically.
That limitation exposes something uncomfortable: his dramatic range feels inconsistent.
There are moments where he seems to be pushing for urgency and desperation, but the emotional weight doesn’t fully land. The frustration and panic required for this premise needed to feel raw and visceral.
Instead, it sometimes feels performed rather than lived.
Rebecca Ferguson as the AI Judge
Rebecca Ferguson plays Judge Maddox — an AI entity manifested as a digital avatar.
It’s a difficult role. She’s essentially a talking head with minimal emotional variation. Playing artificial intelligence demands subtle control, but here the performance occasionally drifts into a slightly exaggerated robotic tone.
To be fair, the script doesn’t give her much room to operate. The character is confined to delivering rules, statistics, and procedural instructions.
When your most compelling actor is restricted to a holographic interface, it limits dramatic chemistry.
Direction & Tone
Timur Bekmambetov has a history of experimenting with stylized storytelling and screen-based formats. Visually, Mercy is kinetic.
There’s:
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Drone chases.
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Surveillance footage from every angle imaginable.
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Police body cams.
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Municipal cloud databases.
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Endless digital overlays.
The production design leans heavily into futuristic tech — sometimes too heavily. Ironically, in a world with hyper-advanced AI capable of real-time probability analysis, certain plot points hinge on technological incompetence.
That contradiction weakens the believability.
The tone also wavers between:
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Serious dystopian thriller.
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Political cautionary tale.
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Tech-action spectacle.
It never quite settles into one identity.
The Twist & Final Act
Without spoilers, the film builds toward a late-game reveal that reframes certain motivations.
Some viewers will find it intriguing. Others will see it coming miles away.
The final act escalates dramatically — almost wildly — shifting from procedural AI trial to something more explosive and morally murky. For some, it crosses into over-the-top territory.
By the end, the title Mercy feels ironic.
Is Mercy (2026) Worth Watching?
Here’s my honest, blog-style verdict:
Is it one of the worst films of the year? No.
Is it a masterpiece of dystopian sci-fi? Also no.
It’s a flawed but interesting concept that never fully capitalizes on its potential.
Strengths:
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Strong central premise.
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Real-time ticking clock tension.
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Slick, modern visual design.
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Relevant AI debate.
Weaknesses:
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Shallow exploration of big themes.
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Uneven acting performances.
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Screenlife fatigue.
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Logic gaps in the twist.
If you enjoy near-future tech thrillers and don’t mind imperfections, it’s at least a conversation starter.
If you’re expecting something on the level of Minority Report, you may walk away disappointed.
Where to Watch Mercy (2026) Online in the US
As of now, Mercy (2026) is available in the United States for digital rental and purchase.
Rent or Buy on:
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Amazon Prime Video
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Plex
For updated streaming availability in the U.S., monitor JustWatch here:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/mercy-2025
At the time of writing, it is not included on major subscription platforms like Netflix or Hulu.
Final Verdict
Mercy is the kind of film that makes you say, “This could have been great.”
The premise is powerful. The execution is uneven. The performances are mixed. The ideas are timely but underdeveloped.
Yet — it kept me watching.
And sometimes that’s enough.
If you’re browsing for a sci-fi thriller to rent tonight and you’re curious about AI, surveillance culture, and dystopian justice systems, Mercy might be worth your time — just manage your expectations.
Have you watched Mercy yet? Did the AI concept work for you — or did the execution fall short?
Bookmark this page for streaming updates, check JustWatch before renting, and let me know your thoughts in the comments.
If you enjoy honest, in-depth movie reviews and clear streaming guides, stick around — your next movie night recommendation might be just one scroll away.
