Okay movie fans Bong Joon Ho is back! You know Bong the director who gave us the Oscar-slaying masterpiece Parasite? His new flick is a sci-fi mind-bender called Mickey 17 starring Robert Pattinson and it is definitely got people talking. But is it a box office smash or did it stumble out of the gate? Let's break down the numbers the story and why this movie is classic Bong in space.
Mickey 17 Box Office Numbers: Solid Start or Lost in Space? Decoding the Dollar Signs
So Mickey 17 had its big opening and the box office results are in. Globally it has made over $50 million which sounds pretty decent right? It even knocked Captain America: Brave New World off the top spot in its opening weekend. Not bad for a quirky sci-fi film with an R-rating.
But here is the catch Mickey 17 was not cheap to make. Warner Bros. dropped a hefty $118 million on production and another $80 million on getting the word out. That is a lot of dough. Experts say it needs to rake in around $275 to $300 million globally just to break even. So while $50 million is a good start it has got a long way to go to be a real financial win. Some are wondering if it is a "box office misfire" given its big budget.
What's the Deal with Mickey 17? Clones Space and Robert Pattinson Dying (A Lot)
What is Mickey 17 even about anyway? It is based on a novel called Mickey7 and it is about expendable workers in space. Robert Pattinson plays Mickey who is basically a "disposable" employee sent on dangerous missions to colonize a frozen planet called Niflheim. The twist? If Mickey dies well no biggie they just "reprint" him. Yep he is a clone and keeps coming back as Mickey 18 Mickey 19 and so on.
Things get complicated when one Mickey is presumed dead but actually isn't and then his replacement shows up. Now there are two Mickeys running around and things are about to get weird. The movie also stars Mark Ruffalo as a Trump-like leader Toni Collette Naomi Ackie and Steven Yeun. It's a space odyssey but with a dark and funny edge.
Bong Joon Ho's Signature Style: Satire Class and Sci-Fi Collide in Mickey 17
If you are a Bong Joon Ho fan you will see his fingerprints all over Mickey 17. It is got that same mix of genres satire and social commentary that you see in movies like Parasite and Snowpiercer. Like Snowpiercer it is got a cold sci-fi setting and like Okja there is a bit of sentimentality mixed in with the weirdness.
Bong loves to explore power structures and class differences. In Mickey 17 the expendable clones highlight how some people are seen as disposable in society especially within capitalist systems. The movie is packed with his signature visual style dark humor and those over-the-top characters that are both funny and a bit unsettling.
Some critics are noting that the villain Kenneth Marshall played by Mark Ruffalo feels very Trump-esque in his portrayal. Bong seems to be using sci-fi to comment on current political and social issues making Mickey 17 more than just a space adventure.
Mickey 17 vs Moon: Clone Movies Compared - Big Budget Comedy or Low-Fi Existentialism?
Interestingly some people are comparing Mickey 17 to another clone-centric sci-fi movie Moon from 2009. Both movies deal with clones and what happens when they meet each other. But they are very different in tone and scale.
Moon is a low-budget more philosophical film focused on isolation and identity with Sam Rockwell playing multiple clones of himself. Mickey 17 is a big-budget comedy with Robert Pattinson playing multiple versions of Mickey but in a more satirical and action-packed setting. Moon is more existential while Mickey 17 is more about social commentary and dark humor. Both explore similar themes but in very different ways.
Key Things to Know About Mickey 17 Movie:
- Director: Bong Joon Ho (Parasite Snowpiercer)
- Starring: Robert Pattinson Mark Ruffalo Naomi Ackie Toni Collette Steven Yeun
- Plot: Expendable worker Mickey clones get reprinted after death while colonizing a dangerous planet.
- Based on: The novel "Mickey7" by Edward Ashton
- Box Office Opening: $19.1 million domestic $53.3 million global
- Production Budget: $118 million (plus marketing)
- Genre: Sci-Fi Comedy Satire
- Themes: Class inequality Capitalism Disposable workers Identity Political satire
Will Mickey 17 Be a Hit? It's Got Bong Joon Ho and Pattinson Going for It...
So is Mickey 17 worth checking out? If you are a fan of Bong Joon Ho's movies or Robert Pattinson's quirky roles it probably is. It is definitely not your typical Hollywood blockbuster. It is weird funny thought-provoking and has got that Bong Joon Ho stamp of originality.
Whether it will be a box office hit remains to be seen. It has got a solid start but needs to keep performing well to make up that big budget. Word-of-mouth will be key. If people are drawn to its unique style and themes it could have legs. Either way Mickey 17 is a movie that is sure to spark conversations and show that Bong Joon Ho is still a director who is not afraid to take risks and make movies that are truly different.