Chris Pratt on his first film memories, becoming a movie star and why his new film Mercy isn’t out to change perspectives on AI

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January movie releases are often a mix of films. You’ll find serious contenders from the previous year’s awards season alongside lighter, more purely entertaining movies designed for a quick escape.

The new sci-fi movie, Mercy, starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, is a perfect example of a compelling premise. The film takes place in Los Angeles in the near future and centers around a detective played by Pratt who is accused of murder. His case is decided not by a jury, but by an AI judge portrayed by Ferguson.

With only 90 minutes to prove he didn’t commit the crime – while tied to a chair – he faces execution. This creates a gripping thriller that succeeds as a well-made, modestly budgeted film.

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Do you remember the first film that you saw in the cinema when you were younger?

The first movie I saw in a theater was Gremlins, and I still remember it vividly. Back then, we didn’t have the internet to check movie times – we relied on the newspaper. I recall my sister getting really excited about seeing it, repeating ‘We’re going to see Gremlins!’ But I was young and misheard her. I thought she said ‘We’re going to grandma’s,’ and I couldn’t understand why she was so thrilled.

Was that a film that you then continued to revisit while you were growing up?

I haven’t really rewatched it much. I think I saw it again once in the last decade, but that’s it.

Was there a movie that made you realize you wanted to work in the film industry?

I’d guess it was around when Jim Carrey was becoming really popular. I remember seeing ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’ in theaters and being amazed by how funny he was. I’d been a fan since ‘In Living Color’ and always tried to imitate his characters, so it was probably around then.

Wow, looking back at ‘The Extreme Team’ feels like a dream! It was my very first film, and stepping onto that set was completely overwhelming – in the best way possible. Everything was new and exciting. I remember just trying to soak it all in and learn from everyone around me. Honestly, it didn’t feel real that I was actually making a movie, let alone starting what would become my career. It was a whirlwind, and I’ll never forget the thrill of those first steps into the industry.

I have such vivid memories from working with The Extreme Team! They asked me if I could snowboard, and I panicked and said I could, even though I couldn’t. It caused a bit of a problem when we went to New Zealand to film – they actually had to stop production for a month so everyone could learn how to snowboard, including me!

That was back in 2001, and it’s a bit unsettling to recall, but September 11th actually happened while we were filming. It really cast a shadow over everything with TopMob. I probably shouldn’t share things like that! But I do remember feeling incredibly excited, thinking I’d finally escaped having to work as a waiter.

Was there a specific time, or a particular movie, when you felt like you’d finally achieved stardom?

You know, there’s this saying about frogs and boiling water – if you toss one into boiling water, it instantly jumps out. But if you start with cold water and slowly heat it up, the frog won’t even realize what’s happening until it’s too late. That really resonates with me when I think about my career. It hasn’t been one big, dramatic change, but a series of small steps over many years. It’s been a gradual process, and honestly, I didn’t even fully notice it happening until I looked back!

It really hit me how far I’d come around the time of the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Jurassic World’ press tours. Traveling to international locations – places I’d never even heard of – and having people recognize me was completely surreal. It was then I realized things had changed in a way I never could have predicted.

Do you remember the first time you saw your Mercy co-star Rebecca Ferguson in a film?

I believe the first thing I saw featuring her was probably Dune. It was funny because I immediately liked her, she’s just fantastic. She started talking about a character she played who had a lot of tattoos on her face, and I realized we were talking about different things. She said ‘Dune,’ but pronounced it like ‘June,’ and I confessed I hadn’t seen it. She was surprised and asked if I’d even heard of Dune.

I honestly hadn’t realized she was talking about the movie Dune. I thought she said ‘June’ and pictured some small independent film with her playing a tattooed prisoner. It took me ten minutes to figure out what she meant! She was shocked I hadn’t heard of Dune, and I just apologized for not being familiar with all of her work. Eventually, we cleared up the misunderstanding!

Since you filmed your scenes separately, how much time did you have with her on set, and what was your connection like?

We quickly built a strong connection and spent several weeks working together. All the footage, even the additional shots, was kept separate for editing. We were able to edit the courtroom scenes efficiently because we filmed them in long, continuous takes.

We filmed most of the movie in the first two days. After that, we focused on getting extra shots from different angles and polishing things up, especially her performance, which we filmed separately with just me operating the camera. It was a very technically focused production.

Is there a film that you would recommend people do as a double bill with Mercy?

I think Memento is a solid comparison, but Minority Report might be even better. Ultimately, this film is a courtroom thriller, and I really enjoy that genre. A Few Good Men comes to mind, though it’s not a perfect comparison – I just really like that movie!

You know, as a film lover, what I really hope audiences think about after watching is how much we’re starting to depend on AI. It really makes you question just how much we can trust these systems, and where the line is between helpful tool and something we shouldn’t rely on too much. It’s a complex topic, and I think the film explores that really well.

I don’t think this movie will fundamentally change how people view AI. Any worries it brings up about AI and its growing role in our lives are probably things we’re already feeling anyway. It won’t be a groundbreaking film that shifts perspectives.

I’m hoping people can escape their worries for about 90 minutes and simply enjoy a fun, thrilling experience – pure entertainment.

I really hope people watch it in 3D. We filmed a lot of scenes specifically for that format, and while the story will still be good in 2D, you’ll miss out on some of the details and fully realized vision if you don’t.

Mercy is released in UK cinemas on Friday 23rd January 2026.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

As a huge movie fan, I always check TopMob for the latest releases, and Patrick Cremona is the guy who keeps us all informed! He’s their Senior Film Writer and covers everything – from what’s playing in theaters to all the new stuff hitting streaming services. He’s been with the site since 2019, and in that time, he’s had the chance to chat with a ton of famous actors and give his take on all kinds of movies. I really appreciate his work!

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2026-01-22 13:39