Bong Joon Ho’s much-anticipated sci-fi black comedy, Mickey 17, has turned out to be a major disappointment for Warner Bros. Despite its star-studded cast, including Robert Pattinson in the titular role, the film is on track to incur significant losses at the box office. According to industry sources, Mickey 17 is likely to lose between USD 75 million to USD 80 million during its theatrical run, a stark contrast to initial expectations. While the film’s camp disputes these figures, claiming the losses are less severe, it’s clear that the film has underperformed commercially.
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Box Office Performance and Financial Struggles
After two weeks in theaters, Mickey 17 has earned USD 35.7 million domestically and USD 92.2 million worldwide. The film was initially projected to gross between USD 175 million to USD 180 million globally, with USD 52 million expected from the U.S. market alone. However, those projections now appear far out of reach. With a production cost of USD 118 million and an additional USD 80 million spent on marketing, including a USD 4 million ad during the AFC Championship, the movie’s breakeven point is USD 300 million. Sources suggest that Warner Bros scaled back some promotional efforts in the lead-up to the film’s release, potentially saving millions in marketing costs.
Mixed Audience Reception
Although the film has received positive reviews for its stunning visuals and bold narrative, Mickey 17 has faced a mixed response from moviegoers, earning a B grade on CinemaScore. Critics were largely impressed, acknowledging the talent of Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) and A-list star Robert Pattinson (Twilight, The Batman). However, the lackluster audience response has hampered the film’s box office success.
Warner Bros will now have to rely on upcoming blockbusters like Minecraft, Superman (directed by James Gunn), and Sinners starring Michael B. Jordan to make up for the losses.
