Chris Pratt’s sci-fi thriller Mercy collected $11.2 million in its North American debut, ending the five-week reign of James Cameron’s behemoth Avatar: Fire and Ash, per variety.com.
While the figure is modest, it is a resilient result given the massive winter storm currently blanketing much of the United States. With blizzard warnings spanning 37 states, major cinema closures resulted in the lowest-earning weekend of the year so far, with total revenues down 9% compared to 2025.
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Mercy stars Pratt as a detective in the near future standing trial for murder, with an advanced AI judge (Rebecca Ferguson) determining his fate.
James Cameron’s Avatar 3 slid to second place with $7 million. After six weeks, Fire and Ash has amassed $1.378 billion globally. While a massive success, it remains unlikely to match the record-breaking heights of its predecessors.
Disney’s Zootopia 2 continues to defy gravity at No. 3. In its ninth weekend, the sequel reached a global total of $1.744 billion, officially becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time, surpassing Inside Out 2.
Following last Thursday’s Academy Award nominations, several contenders saw a “bounce” at the box office like Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet, the film earned $3.5 million following its nine nominations, while Hamnet, Chloé Zhao’s Shakespearean drama, which secured eight Oscar nods, took $2 million as it expanded nationwide.
As Amazon MGM prepares a heavy slate for the remainder of 2026, including the Ryan Gosling-led Project Hail Mary, the industry hopes for a weather recovery to boost a sluggish start to the year.
•Featured image: ©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
