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Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho, whose “Parasite” stormed the world, returns to the big screen with “Mickey 17,” a dystopian sci-fi comedy starring Robert Pattinson. The film will debut in 3,770 theaters in North America, with projections of an opening weekend of $18 million to $20 million. Overseas, “Mickey 17” should take in an additional $20 million to $25 million from 66 markets, for a global debut of around $40 million to $45 million.
These figures present a challenge for Warner Bros., which invested $118 million in the production of the movie. To be profitable, “Mickey 17” would need to gross between $275 million and $300 million in global ticket sales, a target that appears ambitious given current projections.
In “Mickey 17,” Pattinson is an “Expendable,” a temporary worker on a mission to colonize the icy planet of Niflheim. His character dies a number of times, only to be reproduced, which creates a complex plot when one version is thought to be dead, and a replica shows up. Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo are also in the cast.
Critical reception has been mixed.
The film holds an 87% average on Rotten Tomatoes, with some praising it as a fresh blend of dark comedy and science fiction. Empire Magazine described it as “goofy and a bit inconsistent, but it’s also funny, thoughtful and more plausible than we might hope. A winning space aberration for these odd times.” Vanity Fair, however, trashed the film as disconnected and meandering, stating that it “plays more like a scattered handful of ideas than a developed narrative.” Despite those hurdles, theater owners are hopeful that “Mickey 17” will rev up the box office, especially because it’s the weekend’s sole wide opening. The movie’s success could set the tone for upcoming blockbusters later in the year, including films like “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”
As “Mickey 17” hits theaters, it will be up to audiences to decide if Bong Joon Ho’s newest project can overcome its budget woes and connect with moviegoers everywhere.
