Mickey 17: Warner Bros. on Brink of $75 Million Loss

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As a devoted film enthusiast, I’ve often found that Science Fiction movies can be a hard sell for casual cinema-goers due to its specialized nature. However, the upcoming movie “Mickey 17” had given us a glimmer of hope that it might break the mold. Directed by the brilliant Bong Joon Ho, fresh off his Oscar-winning masterpiece “Parasite,” and starring the captivating Robert Pattinson – who has proven himself as one of the most talented actors of this generation – it seemed destined for success. Unfortunately, despite these promising factors and positive critical reception, “Mickey 17” appears to be on track to lose a substantial sum for its distributor, Warner Bros.

According to multiple reports on movies in a similar budget range, the film “Mickey 17” is projected to cost Warner Bros. anywhere from $75 million to $80 million by the end of its cinema release. Initially budgeted at $198 million (including marketing expenses estimated at $80 million), the movie needed to earn about $300 million worldwide to break even, but has only managed to gross $92.2 million globally so far. After a modest start at the box office, its domestic earnings currently stand at $35.7 million, with expectations that it will finish its run earning around $46 domestically and about $143 million worldwide. These figures represent a significant drop from initial predictions of between $175 to $180 million globally before the last two weekends.

‘Mickey 17’ Scored With Critics but Divided Moviegoers

The movie titled “Mickey 17” received positive reviews with a 77% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics agreed that it showcases director Bong Joon Ho’s expertise in quirky sci-fi, combined with a sharp social commentary. Moreover, they suggested that having too many Robert Pattinsons (meaning multiple roles for the actor) can never be a bad thing. However, despite this critical acclaim, audiences had mixed feelings about the film, reflected by a 73% Popcornmeter and a “B” CinemaScore on its opening day. Although these numbers aren’t poor, they might not be sufficient to create the buzz needed for a more specialized sci-fi movie to become a mainstream box office sensation.

A point frequently raised on social media is that movie studios may not be giving films enough time to gather momentum in theaters. When the initial weekend performance signals a decline, these studios often rush the film to Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) for home viewing. The recent release of “Mickey 17” on Mar. 7 and its digital availability by Mar. 25, just weeks after its theater debut, is an example of this trend. This practice started during the pandemic, but box office analysts argue that these short windows should be extended because if ordinary viewers know they have to wait 17-30 days to watch a movie at home, they might choose to forego seeing it in theaters altogether.

Under the guidance of Bong Joon Ho, the movie titled “Mickey 17” is an adaptation from the 2022 novel “Mickey7” by Edward Ashton. It follows the life of Mickey Barnes (Pattinson), a man who takes on a perilous job in a space colony, serving as an “Expendable” – a worker who is cloned whenever he dies for research purposes. Alongside Pattinson, the film features Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo in pivotal roles.

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2025-03-20 23:02