AI thrillers are having a moment. So where does Mercy fit in the pantheon of man-vs-machine movies? Let’s rank it.
The Contenders
- Ex Machina (2014) — The gold standard of AI thrillers
- Minority Report (2002) — Tom Cruise vs predictive algorithms
- I, Robot (2004) — Will Smith punches robots
- The Creator (2023) — Humans vs AI in a war-torn future
- M3GAN (2022) — A murderous AI doll
Where Mercy Ranks
Concept: 🥇 Mercy Wins
No cap, Mercy has the freshest premise. A courtroom drama where the judge is an AI? That’s new. Most AI movies focus on robots gaining consciousness or turning evil. Mercy asks a scarier question: what if AI stays exactly as programmed and that’s the problem?
Tension: 🥈 Second to Ex Machina
Ex Machina is a masterclass in slow-burn dread. Mercy tries to match that with its 90-minute countdown and mostly succeeds—but Ex Machina just hits different.
Message: 🥇 Mercy Wins Again
Mercy has the most relevant message for 2026. AI is already making real decisions—hiring, loans, even parole recommendations. The movie asks: should we let it decide who lives and dies? That’s more urgent than any other film on this list.
Visuals: Middle of the Pack
Mercy is mostly set in one room. Functional but not stunning. The Creator blows it out of the water visually.
Final Ranking
- Ex Machina — Still the GOAT
- Mercy — Fresh, timely, and tense
- Minority Report — Classic for a reason
- The Creator — Gorgeous but hollow
- M3GAN — Fun but not deep
- I, Robot — Fun but dated
Mercy doesn’t dethrone Ex Machina, but it’s a strong #2. What’s your ranking? Drop it below 👇
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