Mercy
Mercy (2026) is a science fiction thriller set in a dystopian Los Angeles of 2029, where escalating crime rates have led to the implementation of the "Mercy Capital Court." This radical judicial system utilizes advanced artificial intelligence, personified by Judge Maddox, to swiftly determine guilt or innocence. Defendants accused of violent crimes are given a mere 90 minutes to present evidence and reduce their "guilt probability" below a specific threshold, or face immediate execution via a sonic blast. The narrative centers on Detective Chris Raven, a former proponent of the Mercy Court, who suddenly finds himself in the defendant's chair, accused of his wife Nicole's murder. Raven, played by Chris Pratt, must race against the ticking clock and utilize the city's extensive digital surveillance network to uncover the real killer and clear his name, all while battling his own personal demons, including a history of alcoholism. The film explores critical themes surrounding the ethics of AI, unchecked surveillance, the nature of justice, and human fallibility versus algorithmic certainty. It is distributed by Amazon MGM Studios and directed by Timur Bekmambetov, known for his 'screenlife' filmmaking style. The movie is rated PG-13 due to its intense violence, bloody images, mature thematic elements, strong language, and depictions of substance use. Given its content, it is generally recommended for older teenagers and adult audiences. Reviewers note its focus on fast-paced action and plot twists over deep philosophical exploration, with the story unfolding largely through on-screen digital interfaces.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe film features frequent and intense violence, including graphic depictions of murder, vehicular accidents with severe injury, gunfire, and explosions. The central premise involves a justice system that executes individuals.
The central crime involves the brutal stabbing murder of Nicole, with her bloodied body shown and digital reconstructions of the injury. Other scenes include innocent people being gruesomely run down by vehicles, a criminal being ejected through a dashboard in a car crash, men and women being shot and killed, and others dying in a large explosion, some burning to death. The Mercy Court itself executes individuals via a sonic blast if they fail to prove their innocence.
Profanity
HighThe movie includes a high frequency of strong language, including a sexual expletive and numerous other curse words, along with misuses of deity.
The script contains a single sexual expletive (the F-word), approximately 29-30 scatological curses (the S-word), and frequent use of mild curses. Additionally, there are several instances of misuses of God's name or 'J— C—'.
Substance Use
HighThe film prominently features alcohol and drug use, including a central character's alcoholism, illegal drug production, and depiction of teenagers smoking.
Chris Raven, the protagonist, is portrayed as a recovering alcoholic with a drinking problem; he is shown drinking in evidence recordings and begins the court case with a low but noted blood alcohol content. Characters, including teenagers, are depicted drinking, vaping, and smoking. A significant plot point involves the use of chemicals to create methamphetamine. A man is also shown smoking marijuana.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe movie contains highly intense and suspenseful content driven by its dystopian premise, graphic violence, and psychological pressure. The constant threat of execution creates a high-stakes and frightening atmosphere.
The core plot involves Detective Chris Raven being on trial for his wife's murder, with a 90-minute countdown to his potential execution via a sonic blast if he cannot prove his innocence. The film features graphic violence including stabbings, shootings, explosions, and people burning to death or being run over by vehicles, contributing to intense and disturbing visuals. The themes of surveillance, a flawed justice system, and psychological pressure are described as distressing for some viewers.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe film contains explicit references to adultery and features mild visual suggestive content, including partial nudity that does not depict sexual acts.
A major plot point revolves around the protagonist Chris Raven's wife, Nicole, having an extramarital affair with Patrick Burke. There is a scene where a teenager video messages a girl while naked in a tub, though only his chest up is visible. A calendar in the background displays a cartoon depiction of a woman in a revealing one-piece swimsuit. The angelic symbol in the movie's trailer initially exposed a breast, but this was edited to be fully covered in the final film.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe film features significant elements of rebellion against an established authority system (the Mercy Court) as a central plot device, including a character seeking revenge due to perceived injustice and a police officer burying evidence.
The character Rob Nelson orchestrates a revenge plot against the Mercy Court because his brother, David Webb, was the first person executed by the system. Chris Raven himself, initially a supporter, actively works against the system to prove his innocence. Chris Raven's partner, Jaq Diallo, is revealed to have buried evidence that would have exonerated Rob's brother, Ray Vale, indicating a disregard for justice and a form of rebellion against proper procedure to ensure a conviction.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowNo explicit LGBTQ+ content, characters, or themes were identified after comprehensive searches for 'Mercy (2026)' combined with various LGBTQ+ keywords. The film's plot and reviews focus on a heterosexual relationship, a murder mystery, and an AI-driven justice system. One search result briefly mentioned an older, unrelated film also titled 'Mercy' that dealt with lesbianism, but this was clearly distinguished from the 2026 release.
Searches for 'Mercy (2026) lgbtq', 'Mercy (2026) gay', 'Mercy (2026) lesbian', 'Mercy (2026) transgender', 'Mercy (2026) queer representation', 'Mercy (2026) LGBTQ characters', and searches for the director's/writer's stance on LGBTQ+ themes yielded no relevant information for this specific film.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no significant content related to witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, or explicit magic rituals. Brief, non-central references to general spiritual beliefs are present.
One character mentions believing in karma. Another character, a girl, makes a joke about hunting for a ghost. The logo for the Mercy Court depicts an angel holding a sword and scales of justice, which is symbolic rather than occult. These are minimal and do not form a thematic element.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowNo explicit anti-Christian themes, mockery of Christian beliefs, or sacrilegious acts were found in the available content reviews or plot summaries. Mentions of deity were in the context of profanity, not as a critique of faith.
The film's 'Spiritual Elements' section in one review mentions a character believing in karma and a girl joking about ghosts, but these are isolated and not anti-Christian. The Mercy Court's logo featuring an angel with a sword and scales is presented as symbolic of justice, not religious mockery. Any uses of 'God' or 'J— C—' were categorized under profanity rather than anti-Christian sentiment.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
PG-13, with a recommendation for older teens (15+) and adults. The film contains mature themes such as murder, execution, addiction, psychological pressure, and graphic violence, which may be distressing or confusing for younger viewers.
Additional Notes
The film employs a 'screenlife' technique, unfolding primarily through digital interfaces, which some critics found tiresome and a gimmick. There is a noted discrepancy between critics' and audience scores, with critics generally giving negative reviews while audience scores were higher. The movie also includes instances of product placement, such as Ring cameras.
Related Reviews
Is Mercy right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required