Bong Joon Ho’s Sci-Fi Epic “Mickey 17″Makes Its Box Office Debut
After much anticipation, Bong Joon Ho’s latest sci-fi endeavor, Mickey 17, has debuted in theaters, projected to accumulate between $18 million and $20 million during its opening weekend in the United States. Although these figures sit at the lower end of expectations, they are sufficient to secure the film’s position at the top of the box office, following a solid start with $7.7 million in ticket sales on Friday.
This film, produced by Warner Bros. and Plan B, has garnered significant attention due to its multiple release delays and its status as Bong’s highly-awaited follow-up to the acclaimed best picture winner, Parasite.
Critical Reception and Audience Response
While viewers and critics have not overwhelmingly praised the film, it holds a reasonable 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes. In audience ratings, it boasts a slightly higher 79% approval rating; however, it earned only a B CinemaScore, indicating mixed reactions.
Production Costs and Global Performance
Admittedly, sci-fi films often face challenges at the box office. Mickey 17comes with a hefty production budget exceeding $118 million, adding a layer of urgency for strong performance. As Warner Bros. continues to navigate a challenging financial landscape, the initial overseas earnings have shown promise, bringing in $18.7 million, with about $11.4 million coming from Bong’s home country of South Korea. This brings the film’s early global total to a commendable $26.4 million through Friday.
Plot Overview and Cast
Set against the backdrop of a developing ice colony, the film follows the journey of Robert Pattinson, who portrays a “reconstituted expendable,”facing death repeatedly. Alongside Pattinson, the talented cast includes Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. The narrative is based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel Mickey 7, focusing on the seventh version of the character Mickey Barnes.
Box Office Competition
In its fourth weekend, Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World is anticipated to drop to second place with projections of approximately $8.7 million, totaling around $177 million domestically. Meanwhile, a competitive race is emerging for third place, with films such as Last Breath, Paddington in Peru, and The Monkey all vying for an estimated $4 million each.
The Monkey, distributed by indie label Neon—recognized for producing this year’s Oscar-winning film Anora—is also noteworthy for being the home of Parasite, which achieved both critical and box office acclaim. As a result of Anora‘s recent success at the Oscars, it has expanded to 1,750 theaters this weekend and is projected to earn around $1.8 million, increasing its domestic total to approximately $18.3 million.