Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho’s latest film, “Mickey 17,” earned $2.5 million in one day in North America. Despite this strong start, with production costs reaching around $118 million, experts predict the film may struggle to turn a profit.
According to Hollywood media outlet Variety on March 7, the sci-fi comedy grossed $2.5 million from its preview screening on March 6.
“Mickey 17″ officially premiered on March 7 and is screening in 3,770 theaters over the weekend. Early projections estimate its first-week earnings in North America will range between $18 million and $20 million, with global box office revenue expected to reach between $40 million and $45 million.
With production costs of $118 million, the film will need to earn around $275 million to $300 million globally to achieve profitability, making it unlikely to break even in the short term. However, “Mickey 17” has a competitive edge in North America, as there are no major box office competitors at the moment. Industry experts predict it will top the charts.
The film follows Mickey (played by Robert Pattinson), an “expendable” who is repeatedly cloned after each death. In the story, Mickey faces his 17th death threat, leading to the creation of a new clone, Mickey 18, under the assumption that the original Mickey has perished, setting the stage for unpredictable events.
“Mickey 17” first released worldwide in South Korea on Feb. 28. According to the Korean Film Council on March 8, the film attracted 109,850 viewers the previous day, bringing its total audience to 1.65 million.
