There is a new suspense and science fiction movie that is achieving great success on Prime Video, as it has quickly risen to the top of the streaming charts of the service.
The Amazon platform has no problem attracting viewers to its new releases, whether they are original productions created for Prime Video, movies released by Amazon MGM in theaters, or older titles from various catalogs.
If you have entered Prime Video recently or are stopping by today, you will see a new movie that is at the top of the most-watched movies this week. This new movie is a science fiction thriller featuring two big stars very familiar with the genre, told from an unconventional perspective, with a story that evokes comparisons to Tom Cruise’s classic, Minority Report.
Mercy, a movie that deserves your mercy and that you watch this weekend on the couch with popcorn
The number 1 movie on Prime Video right now is Mercy, an original science fiction thriller starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. Pratt plays Chris Raven, a police officer who wakes up in a judicial program run by AI, called Mercy, and is the prime suspect in the murder of his wife. He has 90 minutes to convince Judge Maddox, played by Ferguson, an AI, that he is innocent or he will be executed.
Mercy premiered on Prime Video on Sunday, March 22, and quickly rose to the top of the platform’s movie charts. As of today, Monday, March 23, it is not only the number one movie in the United States but also the most-watched movie worldwide, according to FlixPatrol.
In the United States, Mercy is the third most popular title overall, only behind the hit series Scarpetta and Invincible. But it tops the list of just movies, where it is ahead of Sinners, Melania, the former number one movie on Prime Video, The Bluff, and another new addition, Roofman.
The popularity that Mercy has achieved is exactly what Amazon MGM expected. But the success that the movie is having now is a new experience for it, as the thriller by Pratt and Ferguson struggled to capture the audience’s attention previously.
Why is Mercy so successful in streaming? (but it wasn’t in theaters)
Amazon MGM originally released Mercy in theaters two months ago, on January 23. Starring actors from the Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World franchises and the series Dune, the film had hopes of being a success. It was even released in IMAX to try to make it an event, as the movie is narrated almost exclusively through screens, given that Chris is trapped in a chair.
But Mercy did not succeed in theaters. It only grossed 10.8 million dollars in its opening weekend in the United States; it ended with a total worldwide gross of 54.5 million dollars, which is below the stated budget of 60 million, representing a significant financial loss for Amazon MGM.
One of the key reasons for this may have been the criticism, as the score on Rotten Tomatoes is very low, standing at 25%. Gregory Nussen from ScreenRant gave it a 4 out of 10 in his review of Mercy. The overwhelmingly negative reviews focused on its vision of AI, the limits of its framing, Pratt’s performance, and the fundamental themes and execution of the story as some of its many issues.
And while that may have discouraged people from seeing Mercy in theaters, its easy availability on Prime Video changes the story. It’s much easier to give the movie a chance from the comfort of your sofa on a streaming service you already pay for than to go to the cinema and risk being disappointed.
The audience has received the film better, which currently has a score of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Verified audience reviews describe it as full of suspense, action, and emotion. Many also point out that they appreciate the great twist at the end of Mercy and how the film kept them on the edge of their seats.
The participation of Pratt and Ferguson is undoubtedly another reason for their success in streaming. Prime Video subscribers have already enjoyed Pratt in *The Terminal List* or in his 2021 science fiction movie, *The Tomorrow War*. For his part, Ferguson has a large following thanks to *Silo*, *Mission: Impossible*, and other projects. People recognize their faces and generally like their work, which makes it easier to click on the title.
For anyone looking for a relatively quick introduction to the science fiction genre that addresses AI and government surveillance, who generally enjoys the performances of the protagonists and is willing to overlook some flaws, Mercy could be their weekend choice.
