Is Robert Pattinson’s ‘Mickey 17’ a Box Office Flop or a Hidden Gem?

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The science fiction movie titled “Mickey 17,” directed by Bong Joon Ho, features Robert Pattinson’s comeback to the silver screen. Although it saw a decrease in box office earnings during its second week, it is close to reaching the $100 million mark globally. In this film, Robert Pattinson plays Mickey Barnes, a character who volunteers for a dangerous space voyage to the icy planet Niflheim, where he is disposable and often placed in life-threatening situations to secure the future of humanity. Joining him are stars like Mark Ruffalo, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, and Toni Collette, among others. The film, which carries a hefty production budget of around $120 million, surprisingly debuted with only 10% of that amount, earning approximately $19 million in the U.S. during its first weekend.

The movie has been at the top of the domestic box office, which is a significant accomplishment for the South Korean director. Yet, it’s facing challenges in reaching the targeted $100 million worldwide following a substantial decline at the box office over the weekend. It earned just $7.5 million, according to Variety’s estimates, and is expected to generate only around $33 million within the first 10 days of its premiere. This sci-fi film is slowly advancing on the box office rankings, but it needs to earn approximately $295 million to cover its hefty production costs.

What Does This Mean for ‘Mickey 17’?

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Despite Mickey 17 marking a significant achievement for director Bong Joon Ho, it appears disappointingly that Warner Bros. may not reap substantial profits from this film. The movie has earned $33 million domestically and $57 million globally, with South Korea contributing $18 million, resulting in a total of $90 million. To reach the desired $100 million mark, it needs an additional $10 million. However, to become profitable according to industry standards, it would need to make 2.5 times its production budget, which translates to approximately $295 million. Unfortunately, it seems that the film may end up incurring losses of around $75 million instead (as reported by Variety).

Regrettably, the upcoming release of the movie falls significantly short of matching the phenomenal achievement of Parasite, which won an impressive four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020. The movie’s triumphant performance at the box office and its solidification of Bong Joon Ho as a leading director have made it a landmark film. Warner Bros. is planning to distribute the film digitally this week, yet it seems that the studio doesn’t anticipate any further theatrical success for the movie.

‘Mickey 17’ Had Positive Reviews, So What Happened?

2025’s South Korean film, “Mickey 17,” has been well-received with a fresh score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, and an audience approval rating of 73%. This places it among the successful films of the year. Interestingly, it is one of eight movies to have grossed $30 million at the domestic box office in 2025, alongside titles like “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Den of Thieves: Pantera,” “Paddington in Peru,” “The Monkey,” “One of Them Days,” “Dog Man,” and “Heart Eyes.

It’s evident that Bong’s dystopian narratives are striking a chord with viewers, given the current global trend towards dystopia. However, even with this resonance, it seems that the high cost of Mickey 17 is hindering its profitability. Users on Reddit suspect that the film’s budget is impeding its potential to recoup costs, and if reduced, the studio could have made a profit. A user named @Phoeptar commented:

Instead of necessitating major modifications, the film “High Life,” an unconventional space-drama starring Robert Pattinson, demonstrates that it’s possible to make a compelling movie even on a tight budget of approximately 8 million Euros. It’s all about how wisely you spend your funds to effectively convey the narrative, and I believe they could have achieved the same impact with fewer resources.

‘Mickey 17’ Amasses Robert Pattinson Even More Success

In a surprising turn of events, Robert Pattinson delivers yet another impressive acting performance – something that’s become synonymous with this versatile actor. The production budget for the film Mickey 17 is reportedly a staggering $75 million, but it has undeniably boosted Pattinson’s career to unprecedented heights. Making his acting debut as Cedric Diggory in a supporting role in the fourth installment of the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, in 2005, this film remains Pattinson’s highest-grossing project with a staggering $900 million. His stardom soared even higher after he starred in all five installments of the Twilight Saga as Edward Cullen, which cumulatively grossed over $3.3 billion worldwide.

Mickey 17’s digital release is scheduled for March 25, 2025. You can find it streaming on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango Now.

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2025-03-23 05:07