Bong Joon Ho’s highly awaited sci-fi black comedy Mickey 17, his first major big-screen venture after Oscar-winning Parasite, has experienced a modest bump at the US box office. On Tuesday Discount Day, the film made a decent USD 2.5 million, up 59.4% from the day before. This hike is more pronounced than other similar films such as Annihilation, The Creator, and Napoleon, which registered smaller jumps in their initial Tuesday runs.
Solid Tuesday Showing but Ultimate Viability Doubtful
Though Mickey 17 impressed with its Tuesday increase, the overall financial viability of the film is questionable. With a gigantic production budget of USD 118 million (not including advertising expenditures), the movie will have to continue showing steady box office business in order to break even. Even with its impressive beginning, Mickey 17 is still challenged in justifying its expensive production costs, and its future box office performance will go a long way in making or breaking it. Word-of-mouth promotion, increased curiosity, and the reputation of Bong Joon Ho have helped the film so far, but maintaining the support of audiences will be imperative.
Also Read: Captain America, step aside! Mickey 17 takes the top spot at the north america weekend box office
Plot and Reception
From Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7, Mickey 17 stars Robert Pattinson as a disposable worker in a space colony who is cloned every time he perishes on a perilous mission. But when one of his previous iterations balks at joining the cycle, tension mounts and an existential crisis ensues. The film had its world premiere at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in February of 2025 and opened in South Korea before worldwide release. While it initially received mixed reviews with admiration for Bong’s work and Pattinson’s acting, Mickey 17 continues to draw crowds, particularly in South Korea, where the director has a high reputation.
Looking Ahead
As the hold on the movie is building up, Mickey 17 stands the chances of performing, particularly because it doesn’t face any major competitor this week. Its longer term performance, nevertheless, will determine whether or not it makes up and emerges a box office blockbuster. Do you plan on going to watch the movie, or have you done so?
Life is precious. Work sucks. The saying “if you died today they’d replace you tomorrow” has been at the top of my mind the last few months. #Mickey17 is a reminder that we are more than our work. To be patience & kind to ourselves, even versions of ourselves we don’t recognize. pic.twitter.com/styeRLC4W1
— meg. (@wondermeg_) March 8, 2025
