WhileMickey 17may 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 movieParasite, 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 17featuresNaomi Ackie, Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, and Steven Yeun.
As reported byThe Numbers,Mickey 17has broken even at the box office.The movie has accumulated an estimated $121 millionworldwide 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 thatMickey 17will 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 gaveMickey 17eight out of 10 stars — the feature has fallen short of some expectations. While Bong’sParasiteholds a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes, his follow-up only has a 78%. As such,Mickey 17hasn’t quite benefited from the same word of mouththatParasitedid, especially if viewers preferred Bong’s grounded satire in comparison to his more fantastical features.
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Furthermore,Mickey 17also 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-budgetedNovocaineandBlack Bagwere released. It only dipped lower from there. WithMickey 17now 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
ThoughMickey 17may not earn enoughto be considered a success, it is likely that it will have a strong legacy. Much like Bong’s 2013 post-apocalyptic thrillerSnowpiercer,the feature might be embraced and more widely appreciated by audiencesupon 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 forMickey 17to find a loving place among audiences.
