While Mickey 17 may have finally reached a major milestone in its theatrical run’s box office takings, the Robert Pattinson-led sci-fi feature is still unlikely to guarantee itself a financial success. The sci-fi black comedy, which is Bong Joon Ho’s first feature following the release of his 2019 Oscar-winning movie Parasite, focuses on the titular Mickey, the 17th version of a man whose sole purpose is to die over and over again in the name of scientific discovery. Alongside Pattinson, Mickey 17 features Naomi Ackie, Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, and Steven Yeun.
As reported by The Numbers, Mickey 17 has broken even at the box office. The movie has accumulated an estimated $121 million worldwide thus far, earning $43.6 million from its domestic run and $77.5 million from international territories. However, despite surpassing its $118 million budget, it is unlikely that Mickey 17 will earn enough to become a financial success by the end of its theatrical run, as it would need to double that budget.
What This Means About Mickey 17’s Box Office
High Expectations Might Have Doomed Mickey’s Mission
Though it has been a success with critics and viewers — ScreenRant‘s Alex Harrison gave Mickey 17 eight out of 10 stars — the feature has fallen short of some expectations. While Bong’s Parasite holds a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes, his follow-up only has a 78%. As such, Mickey 17 hasn’t quite benefited from the same word of mouth that Parasite did, especially if viewers preferred Bong’s grounded satire in comparison to his more fantastical features.
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Furthermore, Mickey 17 also had to contend with newer releases that took attention away from it. Though the movie topped the box office charts in its debut weekend, it slipped to third the following week as the well-received, smaller-budgeted Novocaine and Black Bag were released. It only dipped lower from there. With Mickey 17 now playing in most territories and likely beginning to be cycled out in favor of newer releases, it is unlikely it will earn much more going forward, thus ending its run short of the needed amount to be considered a success.
Our Take On Mickey 17’s Box Office Legacy
Bong’s Movies Have A Staying Power With Audiences
Though Mickey 17 may not earn enough to be considered a success, it is likely that it will have a strong legacy. Much like Bong’s 2013 post-apocalyptic thriller Snowpiercer, the feature might be embraced and more widely appreciated by audiences upon its home release to stand the test of time. It could also potentially receive renewed interest should it qualify for any awards in the coming season. As it has resonated with those who did see it, there is still hope for Mickey 17 to find a loving place among audiences.
Source: The Numbers
Mickey 17
8/10
- Release Date
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February 28, 2025
- Runtime
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137 minutes
- Producers
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Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Marianne Jenkins, Dooho Choi, Jesse Ehrman