The motion picture “Mercy,” rated 18+ and helmed by director and producer Timur Bekmambetov, who has lately concentrated his efforts across the USA, Israel, and Kazakhstan, has unexpectedly seized the top spot at the North American box office. This feature, which premiered on January 23rd, climbed to the summit of the US and Canadian ticket sales, successfully dethroning James Cameron’s “Avatar: Flame and Ash,” a film that had enjoyed the leading position for five consecutive weekends.
Initial projections foresee Bekmambetov’s thriller grossing approximately $12.6 million during its inaugural weekend. This financial performance occurred despite a significant wintry storm sweeping across a large swath of the United States, an event that typically depresses cinema attendance. MGM Amazon Studios confirms that the revenue forecast aligns with the studio’s expectations, although the filmmakers had initially aimed to approach the $15 million mark.
The narrative of the film is situated in the near future. Chris Pratt portrays the protagonist, who faces a tribunal accused of murdering his spouse. A pivotal plot component is the judge, whose rulings are dictated by artificial intelligence, thereby sealing the hero’s subsequent fate. Rebecca Ferguson also features prominently, taking on one of the major supporting roles.
However, the film’s ascent to the top was not entirely smooth. Critics largely overlooked the premiere, and overall audience reception remained somewhat reserved. According to CinemaScore data, moviegoers awarded the picture a B- grade, which is considered an average score for a major release.
Having been displaced from the number one slot, James Cameron’s “Avatar: Flame and Ash,” from 20th Century Fox, is anticipated to secure second place this weekend, drawing in around $7 million. This latest tally will bring the film closer to accumulating a domestic total gross of $380 million.
Holding the third position in the chart is Disney’s animated success, “Zootopia 2.” Its weekend earnings are estimated to reach up to $6 million, pushing its total North American gross past the $400 million milestone. Globally, the animated feature’s box office revenue has reportedly surpassed $1.7 billion.
Rounding out the top four remains Paul Feig’s movie “The Housemaid,” starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. This Lionsgate production is enjoying its sixth weekend in theaters and is expected to add roughly another $6 million to its total. The movie’s worldwide cumulative gross has now reached $250 million, marking the project as a noteworthy commercial achievement.
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