The sci-fi thriller Mercy secured a respectable $5 million on its opening Friday, positioning it to potentially dethrone Avatar: Fire and Ash for the top domestic spot with a projected $12 million weekend debut. Starring Chris Pratt as a detective who must prove his innocence to an AI judge (Rebecca Ferguson) in a futuristic Los Angeles, the Amazon MGM Studios production faced a literal "cold reception" as severe winter storms across North America shuttered theaters and hampered turnout. Despite a lukewarm B- CinemaScore and negative critical reviews, the film is benefiting from a quiet January slate and strong audience interest in its high-concept, "guilty until proven innocent" premise. 📸: IMDb

The sci-fi thriller Mercy secured a respectable $5 million on its opening Friday, positioning it to potentially dethrone Avatar: Fire and Ash for the top domestic spot with a projected $12 million weekend debut. Starring Chris Pratt as a detective who must prove his innocence to an AI judge (Rebecca Ferguson) in a futuristic Los Angeles, the Amazon MGM Studios production faced a literal "cold reception" as severe winter storms across North America shuttered theaters and hampered turnout. Despite a lukewarm B- CinemaScore and negative critical reviews, the film is benefiting from a quiet January slate and strong audience interest in its high-concept, "guilty until proven innocent" premise. 📸: IMDb