Tag: Chris Sullivan

Oscar Predictions: Mercy

Out this weekend, Chris Pratt is a cop on trial for murder with Rebecca Ferguson as his AI judge in Timur Bekmambetov’s sci-fi thriller Mercy. The Amazon MGM offering hopes to be the first 2026 title to debut at #1. Costars include Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, and Kylie Rogers.

With Oscar nominations due tomorrow morning, January usually provides some titles that won’t be in contention for the next ceremony. This appears to be no exception with a troubling 21% on Rotten Tomatoes and 35 Metacritic. The only category worth mentioning is Visual Effects where Pratt has had a presence with the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Same goes for Ferguson with the two Dune‘s and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning. The subpar reviews indicate that isn’t realistic. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Mercy Box Office Prediction

Originally slated for release last summer, Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson headline Amazon MGM’s sci-fi action pic Mercy on January 23rd. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the recently lambasted Ice Cube version of War of the Worlds), costars include Annabelle Wallis, Kylie Rogers, Kali Reis, and Chris Sullivan.

Despite their combined participation in mega-franchises Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World, Mission: Impossible, and Dune, this pairing of Pratt and Ferguson seems like it just as easily could have premiered on a streaming service. Pratt has gone that route recently with The Tomorrow War and The Electric State. Buzz is far from electric. Forecasts have this in the low double digits and I’m not confident it even gets there.

Mercy opening weekend prediction: $9.3 million

Oscar Predictions: Presence

Steven Soderbergh’s latest is Presence and early reviews from Sundance compliment it as an unconventionally engrossing ghost story. Lucy Liu, Julia Fox, and Chris Sullivan star in the brief (85 minutes) genre exercise written by David Koepp (who scripted the director’s recent Kimi).

Mr. Soderbergh helped usher in the indie revolution in 1989 with Sex, Lies, and Videotape. Since then, he’s helmed an eclectic mix of awards contenders, blockbusters, and experimental efforts. This appears to fall in the latter grouping. It’s actually been some time since Soderbergh was majorly in the Oscar mix with the one two punch of Erin Brockovich and Traffic in 2000.

Despite a 100% RT score, Presence shouldn’t have one among Academy voters. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…