Bong Joon Ho, the director behind Parasite and The Host, brings his quirky sci-fi comedy Mickey 17 to theaters this Friday. According to Deadline, the film is tracking for a domestic opening of $18-20 million.
Internationally, Mickey 17 is expected to earn between $20-25 million across 66 territories, bringing its global debut to around $40-45 million. Not bad for an R-rated arthouse film that has faced marketing challenges.
The biggest challenge for Mickey 17 is its cost. The film reportedly has a budget of around $118 million, excluding marketing and P&A expenses. To break even, estimates suggest it will need to gross $300 million worldwide.
Mickey 17 debuted in Bong Joon Ho’s home country, South Korea, earning $6.6 million over the weekend—the highest opening in the country so far this year. Reviews have been largely positive, with the film holding an 85% rating (7.4/10) from 103 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have both praised and critiqued its unpredictable tone, describing it as a mix of Terry Gilliam meets Kubrick meets Dumb and Dumber.
Read More: ‘Mickey 17’ Has Been Moved Up And Is Now Releasing On March 7
Robert Pattinson leads Mickey 17 as an expendable worker who is repeatedly reprinted after each death, carrying out perilous tasks on the icy planet Niflheim. However, when his 17th version unexpectedly survives, he comes face-to-face with his already-printed 18th incarnation. The film also features Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo.
In a recent interview with The LA Times, Bong Joon Ho shared that franchise films don’t particularly appeal to him. However, he once considered directing an Alien movie—before jokingly suggesting an Alien musical instead.
Source: Deadline