What film about a detective on trial, accused of murder, was released in January 2026?

The film released in January 2026, centering on a detective accused of murder and undergoing a trial, is titled Mercy. This science fiction thriller plunges viewers into a near-future Los Angeles where a new judicial system, the Mercy Capital Court, utilizes artificial intelligence to preside over capital crime cases. The protagonist, LAPD Detective Chris Raven, portrayed by Chris Pratt, finds himself in the unprecedented position of being tried by the very system he once championed.

Detective Raven is accused of murdering his wife, Nicole, and faces a daunting challenge: he has a mere 90 minutes to convince the AI Judge Maddox, played by Rebecca Ferguson, of his innocence. Should he fail to lower his guilt probability below a strict threshold, he faces execution by a sonic blast. The film explores timely themes surrounding the role of artificial intelligence in the legal system, questioning its impartiality and the potential for human error or manipulation in a technologically advanced courtroom. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Mercy offers an engaging look at the ethical dilemmas and high stakes involved when justice is placed in the hands of algorithms.