Bong Joon Ho's 'Mickey 17' Struggles at Box Office Despite No. 1 Debut

The sci-fi comedy faces challenges recouping its $118 million production budget amid mixed reviews and moderate global earnings.

'Mickey 17' opened at No. 1 domestically with $19.1 million but remains far from its $275-300 million global break-even target.
The film, directed by Bong Joon Ho and starring Robert Pattinson in multiple roles, has garnered mixed critical reception, with a 'B' CinemaScore and 79% on Rotten Tomatoes.
International earnings totaled $34.2 million, bringing the worldwide gross to $53.3 million after two weekends in theaters.
Warner Bros. continues its focus on high-budget, director-driven originals, with upcoming releases like 'Alto Knights' and 'A Minecraft Movie' set to test the market further.
The broader box office remains under pressure, with year-to-date revenue trailing pre-pandemic levels by 34% despite some standout performances from other films.