Could Chris Pratt’s New Film Surpass Avatar 3’s Success?
Chris Pratt’s upcoming film, “Mercy,” is set to challenge the dominance of James Cameron’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” at the box office this weekend. “Mercy” aims to generate between $10 million and $13 million from approximately 3,400 theaters across North America.
Box Office Showdown: “Mercy” vs. “Avatar 3”
Currently, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is projected to earn around $8 million to $10 million during its sixth weekend, following five consecutive weeks at the top of domestic charts. As the only major new release this weekend, “Mercy” marks Amazon MGM’s first significant entry of the year. The company plans to enhance its theatrical lineup over the next 11 months with films such as:
- “Project Hail Mary,” starring Ryan Gosling
- “Masters of the Universe,” based on the popular toy line
- “Verity,” an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel
Production Details
“Mercy,” directed by Timur Bekmambetov, is set in a near-future scenario where Chris Pratt plays a detective on trial for the alleged murder of his wife. A futuristic AI judge, portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson, will determine the detective’s fate. The production budget for “Mercy” was $60 million, excluding global marketing costs, and it carries a PG-13 rating.
Current Box Office Performance
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” has so far accumulated $368 million in North America and a staggering $1.32 billion globally. It stands as the second-highest grossing film of 2025, trailing only behind “Zootopia 2.” Notably, the original “Avatar” and its sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water,” remain top earners in cinematic history, with $2.9 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively.
Market Analysis and Outlook
January usually sees slower movie attendance, but this year, box office receipts are running 18% ahead of the previous year, according to Comscore. Cinema operators are optimistic about retaining this momentum, especially with upcoming anticipated releases including:
- “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”
- Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey”
- “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”
David A. Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research has commented on the encouraging start to 2026, noting robust holdover business. However, he warns that as children return to school and holiday releases wind down, there is a risk of a slowdown in box office performance.
As both “Mercy” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” compete for audience attention this weekend, it remains to be seen if Chris Pratt’s film can indeed surpass the box office success of the latest “Avatar” installment.
