Kali Reis and Chris Pratt in ‘Mercy.’ Justin Lubin/Amazon MGM Studios
When Hollywood talks about opening weekends, weather rarely gets top billing. This time, it did. A brutal winter storm sweeping across large parts of the U.S. shut down more than 400 theaters—and it shows clearly in the box office numbers.
Still, even under icy conditions, Chris Pratt’s new thriller Mercy managed to pull off a notable win.
A Stormy Weekend for Theaters—and Ticket Sales
This past weekend marked one of the slowest domestic box office frames of the year so far, largely because cities urged residents to stay home and hundreds of theaters went dark. Overall revenue dipped below the same weekend in 2025, signaling just how disruptive the storm was for the industry.
Against that backdrop, any film opening above expectations deserves attention.
‘Mercy’ Takes the Top Spot—Barely, But Bravely
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Mercy stars Chris Pratt as a man on trial for murdering his wife—only to discover that his fate will be decided by an AI judge. The high-concept thriller opened with a revised $11.2 million domestically after early estimates were adjusted downward due to widespread theater closures.
Internationally, the film showed stronger early momentum, launching with $11.6 million overseas.
That said, the road ahead may be challenging. Critics haven’t been kind, and audience response landed at a B- CinemaScore, suggesting mixed word-of-mouth.
Still, Mercy earned one major bragging right…
‘Avatar 3’ Finally Loses Its Crown
After dominating the box office for five straight weekends, James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash slipped to No. 2, earning an estimated $7 million domestically. Don’t mistake that for weakness, though.
The film’s totals are massive:
- $378.5 million in North America
- $1.379 billion worldwide
Overseas alone, Avatar 3 added another $28 million, crossing the $1 billion international mark—a rare feat in today’s theatrical landscape.
Disney Still Rules With ‘Zootopia 2’
Holding steady at No. 3, Disney’s Zootopia 2 continues its record-breaking run. The animated hit earned $5.7 million domestically this weekend and has now crossed:
- $401.4 million in North America
- $1.744 billion globally
Between Avatar 3 and Zootopia 2, Disney has dominated global box office charts for nine consecutive weekends—a reminder of the studio’s unmatched reach.
Strong Holds, Soft Landings Elsewhere
- The Housemaid (Lionsgate), starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, cleaned up another $4.2 million, pushing its global total to $294.9 million, making it director Paul Feig’s highest-grossing film to date (unadjusted for inflation).
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple slipped to No. 5 with $3.6 million, struggling after an underwhelming debut.
- A24’s Marty Supreme and Focus Features’ Hamnet benefited modestly from Oscar buzz, proving awards attention still matters—just not like it used to.
- Return to Silent Hill opened quietly with $3.3 million, though its low budget ensures profitability.
- The 25th-anniversary re-release of The Lord of the Rings trilogy continued to draw fans, adding $18.7 million globally so far.
The Bigger Picture
This weekend wasn’t just about which movie won—it was a reminder of how external forces like weather can dramatically reshape box office outcomes. Studios will be watching closely to see whether audiences return once conditions improve, potentially recapturing some of that lost demand.
For now, Mercy stands as a chilly but meaningful victory in an otherwise frozen marketplace.
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