Bong Joon-ho’s “Mickey 17” Moves to Streaming After Box Office Disappointment
Director Bong Joon-ho’s highly anticipated sci-fi film “Mickey 17” has ended its theatrical run after just over a month, transitioning to streaming platforms following significant financial losses. Despite its star-studded cast, including Robert Pattinson and Mark Ruffalo, and the prestige of being Bong’s first project since the Oscar-winning “Parasite,” the film failed to meet commercial expectations.
Premiering on February 28, Mickey 17 carried a hefty production budget of approximately 118 million USD (173 billion KRW), with Warner Bros. reportedly investing another 80 million USD (117.3 billion KRW) in global marketing. However, the film fell well short of its estimated 300 million USD break-even point, grossing only 122.9 million USD worldwide.
Beginning April 8, the film will be available on streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango. While the digital release may help offset some losses, industry analysts predict it will not significantly reverse the film’s underperformance. Loss estimates, initially pegged at 100 million USD, may now settle closer to 80 million USD.
Critically, “Mickey 17” garnered mixed reactions, earning a 77% critics’ score and 73% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, markedly lower than the near-universal acclaim “Parasite” received.
The reception and box office turnout underscore the growing challenge auteur-led films face in today’s blockbuster-driven landscape, even with acclaimed directors at the helm.
