Box Office: ‘Mickey 17’ Freezes Up With Chilly $7.7 Million Opening Day
‘Mickey 17’ earned $7.7M on opening day, starring Robert Pattinson, facing a $118M production budget.
Bong Joon Ho's movie ‘Mickey 17’ premiered with a relatively modest opening day grossing $7.7 million across 3,807 theaters, indicating a tepid market response. The sci-fi comedy, starring Robert Pattinson as interstellar doppelgangers, emerged as Warner Bros.' flagship film for 2025, with a significant production budget of $118 million, leading to concerns over profitability. Critics observe that despite featuring in premium auditorium spaces like Imax, the movie and its budget necessitate a more robust revenue stream to potentially surpass $275 million globally for a chance at profitability.
The film adaptation of Edward Ashton’s novel 'Mickey7' involves an ensemble cast including Mark Ruffalo, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Steven Yeun, expanding the universe of intergalactic exploration and existential conflicts. Though it has received positive critiques, the responses are not as overwhelmingly positive as Bong’s acclaimed film 'Parasite,' which notched an impressive box office of over $262 million globally. Audience sentiment, based on CinemaScore ratings, stands at 'B,' signifying a lukewarm reception that may not suffice for a prolonged theatrical run.
'Mickey 17’ faces stiff competition from Disney’s enduring ‘Captain America: Brave New World,’ which settled into second with $2.1 million on its fourth Friday, contributing to a domestic total of $170.1 million. The film, although successful within the year, ranks relatively low within the Marvel Cinematic Universe ledger. Warrior Bros. remains hopeful for a turnaround in overseas markets, as domestic ventures persist in the shadow of other cinematic juggernauts.
Third in the box office ranking is Focus Features' ‘Last Breath,’ adding $1.16 million and charting a $4.1 million weekend projection. Meanwhile, other entrants include Angel Studios’ ‘Rule Breakers’ debuting with $600,000 and competing fiercely against Vertical Entertainment's ‘In the Lost Lands,’ which yielded a lower $380,000 from initial audiences. Such dynamics illustrate a shifting box office landscape where diverse themes from science fiction to dramas vie for audience engagement.
Industry insights highlight these opening figures against the historical backdrop where mid-size films face visibility challenges amidst mega-productions and franchise iterations. Analysts stress that Warner Bros.' decision to continue backing original content from renowned directors like Bong Joon Ho is a gamble on creative storytelling over formulaic guarantees, suggesting an evolving narrative in film distribution strategies.
Sources: Variety, Box Office Mojo.