Science fiction can be a tough genre to sell to casual audiences, but there were high expectations for Mickey 17. Directed by Bong Joon Ho in his follow-up to the Oscar-winning Parasite and starring Robert Pattinson, one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, the film seemed poised for success. However, despite positive reviews, it is now projected to result in a major financial loss for Warner Bros.
According to Variety, three industry sources estimate that Mickey 17 will cost Warner Bros. between $75 million and $80 million in losses by the end of its theatrical run. The film had a production budget of $118 million, with an additional $80 million spent on marketing. To break even, it needed to reach around $300 million globally, but so far, it has only earned $92.2 million worldwide.
After a lackluster opening weekend, its domestic earnings stand at $35.7 million, with projections suggesting it will close at $46 million in North America and approximately $143 million worldwide. This is a downgrade from earlier forecasts, which predicted a global total of $175 to $180 million before its recent underwhelming weekends.
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Mickey 17 received positive reviews from critics, earning a 77% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus praises director Bong Joon Ho for returning to his signature blend of eccentric sci-fi and sharp social commentary, stating, “Mickey 17 finds Bong Joon Ho returning to his forte of daffy sci-fi with a withering social critique at its core, proving along the way that you can never have too many Robert Pattinsons.”
Read More: ‘Mickey 17’ Will Be Tricky At Global Box Office With $45M Debut
However, audience reactions were more mixed. The film holds a 73% Popcornmeter (essentially its audience score) and received a “B” CinemaScore from opening-day viewers. While these ratings aren’t necessarily bad, they weren’t strong enough to generate the word-of-mouth buzz needed to push a niche sci-fi film into mainstream success.
Many on social media have pointed out that studios often don’t allow films enough time to gain traction in theaters. Once opening weekend numbers fall short of expectations, the focus quickly shifts to PVOD (premium video on demand) for home viewing. Mickey 17 premiered on March 7 and is already set for digital release on March 25, just a few weeks after hitting theaters.
While shortened theatrical windows became common after the pandemic, many box office analysts argue that this approach is outdated and that longer exclusivity is necessary. If casual moviegoers know a film will be available at home within 17–30 days, they may opt to skip the theater experience altogether.
Written, directed, and produced by Bong Joon Ho, Mickey 17 is adapted from Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel Mickey7. The story follows Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson), a man recruited to a space colony as an “Expendable”—a worker who is repeatedly cloned each time he dies in the name of scientific research. The cast also includes Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo.
Source: Variety