Timur Bekmambetov's film 'To Execute or to Pardon' unexpectedly became the leader of the American box office, surpassing the long-awaited 'Avatar 3' by James Cameron.
The film is originally titled Mercy. The main roles in the film are played by Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. According to Variety, in its opening weekend, the film grossed $11 million, allowing it to take the top spot in the U.S. box office rankings.
Prior to this, 'Avatar 3' had held the lead for five weeks. However, analysts note that Cameron's film did not meet the expectations of distributors. Despite being one of the most anticipated releases, its box office earnings during the opening period fell short of the projected $100–120 million.
The success of Bekmambetov's project has become a notable event for the industry and demonstrated that even major franchises can give way to new films with strong casts and unexpected viewer interest.
