Why Is Mickey 17 Flopping at the Box Office Despite Bong Joon Ho and Robert Pattinson?

The highly anticipated sci-fi comedy Mickey 17, directed by Oscar-winner Bong Joon Ho and starring Robert Pattinson, has stumbled out of the gate at the box office, leaving fans and industry insiders scratching their heads. According to Box Office Mojo, the film has grossed $24,566,061 domestically (49.9%) and $24,700,000 internationally (50.1%), totaling a worldwide haul of $49,266,061 as of March 14, 2025.

With a hefty $118 million production budget—plus millions more in marketing—this near-even split between domestic and international earnings masks a deeper story of underperformance. What went wrong for this auteur-driven genre flick? Let’s dive into the numbers, the context, and the potential reasons behind its chilly reception.

What Do the Box Office Numbers Tell Us About Mickey 17?

As reported by Box Office Mojo, Mickey 17 opened on March 7, 2025, with a domestic debut of $19,002,852 across 3,807 theaters, averaging roughly $5,000 per screen. By March 14—six days into its run—it had earned $24,566,061 in the U.S. and Canada, accounting for 49.9% of its worldwide total of $49,266,061. Internationally, it pulled in $24,700,000 (50.1%), with strong starts in markets like South Korea, where director Bong Joon Ho’s fanbase gave it a boost.

However, these figures pale against the film’s massive $118 million budget, not to mention an estimated $80 million in marketing costs. Industry experts suggest it needs $275 million to $300 million globally to break even theatrically—a target it’s nowhere near hitting. Despite topping the domestic box office in its opening weekend, the numbers signal a steep drop-off looms, with projections of a 55%-60% decline in its second weekend.

Why Didn’t Audiences Show Up for Mickey 17?

Several factors could explain Mickey 17’s lackluster turnout. First, its $118 million budget is astronomical for an original, R-rated sci-fi comedy with no pre-existing IP to lean on. In today’s franchise-dominated market, audiences gravitate toward familiar names like Marvel or Star Wars, not niche concepts about an “expendable” worker (Pattinson) reprinted after deadly missions.

Posts on X highlight this sentiment, with users noting the film’s lack of blockbuster competition yet failure to capitalize on its star power and director pedigree. Additionally, its early March release—a notoriously slow period—may have dampened enthusiasm, as moviegoers often save their dollars for summer tentpoles. Critics gave it an 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences rated it 81%, but positive buzz hasn’t translated into ticket sales.

How Does Mickey 17 Compare to Other Sci-Fi Films?

To understand its underperformance, let’s stack Mickey 17 against similar sci-fi ventures. Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival (2016) opened to $24 million domestically with a $47 million budget, eventually grossing $203 million worldwide. Brad Pitt’s Ad Astra (2019), costing $100 million, debuted at $19 million and finished with $127 million globally—still a loss. Mickey 17’s $19 million opening aligns with these films, but its higher budget and lack of legs suggest it won’t match their totals.

Even Bong’s own Parasite (2019), made for $11 million, grossed over $262 million worldwide by building momentum through awards buzz—something Mickey 17 hasn’t replicated. The film’s IMAX and premium large-format ticket sales (48% of its opening weekend) show some promise, but not enough to offset its financial hole.

Could Marketing Missteps Have Doomed Mickey 17?

Warner Bros. banked heavily on Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite prestige and Robert Pattinson’s post-Twilight and The Batman draw, but the marketing may have missed the mark. The campaign leaned into Pattinson’s quirky “expendable” character and Bong’s auteur status, yet struggled to make the concept relatable to a broad audience. Sci-fi comedies are a tough sell—think The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005), which flopped with $104 million worldwide against a $50 million budget.

Posts on X suggest the film’s high cost and lack of a clear hook left it stranded, with one user lamenting Warner Bros.’ gamble on “pricey auteur gambles” in a risk-averse market. At $2.5 million in previews, early interest was tepid, hinting at a failure to ignite widespread excitement.

What’s Next for Mickey 17 and Warner Bros.?

As Mickey 17 limps through its theatrical run, its $49,266,061 worldwide gross after six days paints a grim picture. With upcoming Warner Bros. projects like Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and Paul Thomas Anderson’s $140 million epic on the horizon, the studio may need to rethink its strategy for big-budget originals. The film’s near 50-50 domestic-international split shows some global appeal—Korea alone contributed $14.6 million—but it’s not enough to salvage profitability.

Word-of-mouth (63% definite recommend on PostTrak) might offer a slight lifeline, but the steep second-weekend drop expected (around $8-$9 million domestically) suggests its theatrical journey is nearing an icy end.

In the end, Mickey 17’s box office stumble isn’t just a numbers game—it’s a cautionary tale of ambition clashing with audience tastes. Bong Joon Ho and Robert Pattinson delivered a bold, quirky sci-fi vision, but its $118 million price tag and lack of IP familiarity proved too steep a climb in a franchise-hungry world.

Some Closing Thoughts:

As the dust settles on its $24,566,061 domestic and $24,700,000 international totals, per Box Office Mojo, the film’s legacy may lie in home viewing or cult status rather than theatrical triumph. For now, it’s a stark reminder: even the biggest names can’t guarantee a hit when the stars—and budgets—don’t align.

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