Chris Pratt Reportedly 'Spiraling' As His New Action Film Struggles: 'The Everyman Charm May Be Gone'

Hollywood star Chris Pratt is said to be in shock over the underperformance of his new movie, "Mercy."

The film has received poor ratings since its debut, which has raised questions about the possibility of it recouping the production budget and making real profits.

Chris Pratt has spoken about his experience filming the movie, including how he spent time with the LAPD to prepare for his role.

Chris Pratt's latest action thriller, "Mercy," has only spent a few days in cinemas since its release, yet it already appears to be headed for box office disappointment.

So far, the film has earned just over $1 million in preview screenings and posted only low double-digit figures in its opening weekend. Adding to the concern, it has received a harsh 20% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 34 out of 100 on Metacritic.

For any showrunner, such numbers raise serious questions about whether "Mercy" would bring in real profits, especially as it carries a reported production budget of $60 million, before global marketing costs are even factored in.

But amid the speculation, it appears Pratt has been the hardest hit, as he is reportedly in disbelief over the film's underperformance.

"Chris genuinely didn't see this coming," an insider told Rob Shuter's #ShuterScoop. "He believed his name alone could open a movie. Now? He's spiraling."

Having starred in mega-franchises like "Jurassic World" and "Guardians of the Galaxy," it's almost no surprise that Pratt feels the way he does.

All three "Guardians of the Galaxy" films opened with over $90 million each and went on to earn more than seven times that amount at the worldwide box office.

Similarly, all three "Jurassic World" movies he starred in achieved comparable opening weekend numbers and eventually became major box office successes.

Now, while fingers are being pointed around over who is to blame for the situation, some insiders note that Pratt is grappling with the possibility that outside of these blockbuster franchises, he might just be an ordinary actor.

"The franchises protected him," said an insider. "Without them, he's exposed. The everyman charm may be gone."

One more source added about the situation: "This is the first time Chris feels… replaceable, and it's terrifying."

In "Mercy," Pratt takes on the role of a homicide detective who is faced with the shocking allegation of murdering his wife, and given a limited time to prove his innocence to an advanced AI judge or be executed via a sonic blast.

The character saw Pratt deliver a different side than his typical goofy self, which earned him praise from the movie's director, Timur Bekmambetov, during the New York City premiere on Tuesday, January 20.

"This movie, it's not just an action movie — because we expect Chris Pratt to be tough and jump and entertain us — but it's [also] very vulnerable, very broken man. And it was unique for him," the director told People Magazine about the role. "He played this for the first time."

Bekmambetov went on to say that he was surprised by "how unexpectedly dramatic" Pratt could be, and he emphasized this by recalling the actor's performance in the scene where his character's wife dies.

"It's the most dramatic, edgy, painful, and emotional scene," the director said of the scene, which he claimed was his favorite.

Speaking about his experience making the film, Pratt revealed at New York Comic Con last year that Mercy required him to spend time with law enforcement officers as part of his preparation for the role.

"I had an opportunity to work with the LAPD and their homicide division, and so I was able to go down and talk to those guys," Pratt said.

"It was really incredible," the actor further noted about his time with the cops.

As part of his time with the authorities, he was able to perform stunts, an experience he found genuinely enjoyable.

"I mean, some of the stunt work we did was really great," he added. "We got to drive, cop cars, and do some cool bar fight stuff."

But overall, he left with a sense of appreciation for the work the authorities do, having seen it firsthand and hearing their stories.

"Man, these guys are heroes, and the trouble that they encounter and the trauma they see on a day-to-day basis is really, really staggering," he further remarked.