MOVIE NEWS – Science fiction films often struggle to attract mainstream audiences due to their niche appeal, but there was hope that Mickey 17 would be an exception. The film marked Parasite director Bong Joon Ho’s highly anticipated return, and expectations were high with Robert Pattinson in the lead. However, despite solid reviews, the film is shaping up to be a financial disaster for Warner Bros.

According to Variety, which spoke with industry insiders, Mickey 17 is projected to cost Warner Bros. between $75 million and $80 million in losses by the end of its theatrical run. The sci-fi film carried a hefty $118 million production budget, plus an additional $80 million in marketing expenses. To break even, it needed to gross $300 million globally, yet it has only managed to bring in $92.2 million so far. After a weak opening weekend, its domestic total sits at $35.7 million, and it’s expected to close at $46 million in the U.S., with an estimated global total of just $143 million. These figures fall short of early projections ranging from $175 million to $180 million worldwide.

‘Mickey 17’ Earned Critical Praise But Divided Audiences

Critics were largely positive about Mickey 17, with the film receiving a 77% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads: “Mickey 17 lets Bong Joon Ho play to his strengths with quirky sci-fi and sharp social satire, proving along the way that there’s no such thing as too much Robert Pattinson.” However, audience reactions were more mixed, with a 73% Popcornmeter rating and a “B” CinemaScore. While not disastrous, these numbers weren’t strong enough to create the kind of buzz that could push a niche sci-fi film into blockbuster territory.

Why Is ‘Mickey 17’ Struggling?

One major issue critics point out is the shrinking theatrical window. Mickey 17 was released on March 7 and will hit digital platforms by March 25, barely giving it time to gain traction. This trend became common during the pandemic, but many analysts argue that shorter release windows hurt films like this, as audiences may opt to wait rather than see them in theaters.

Written, directed, and produced by Bong Joon Ho, Mickey 17 is based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel Mickey7. The story follows Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson), an “Expendable” in a space colony who is cloned every time he dies. The cast also includes Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo.

Source: MovieWeb