MICKEY 17 MOVIE REVIEW 2025

 

1. Bong Joon-ho’s Post-Parasite Power

After Parasite (2019) made Oscars history, Bong’s return to sci-fi (Snowpiercer, Okja) generated massive hype:

• Visionary Worldbuilding: The film’s dystopian colony planet “Niflheim” merges Blade Runner’s grit with Bong’s satirical edge.

• Risk-Taking Tone: Shifts from body horror to slapstick comedy (e.g., Mickey clones arguing over chores).

• Social Commentary: Critiques corporate exploitation and disposable labor.

Budget vs. Profit:

• Production Cost: $150M

• Global Box Office: $652M (as of June 2025)

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2. Robert Pattinson’s Career-Defining Performance

Pattinson plays 7 versions of Mickey Barnes, a “disposable” colonist cloned for dangerous missions:

Clone Version	Personality Trait	Fan Nickname
Mickey 1	Optimistic leader	“Captain Space Himbo”
Mickey 4	Cynical survivalist	“RBatman 2.0”
Mickey 7	Rebellious anarchist	“The Joker of Space”

Critical Praise:

• “Pattinson finally sheds his indie persona to embrace chaotic genius.” – The Hollywood Reporter

• Oscar Buzz: Best Actor nomination predicted for 2026 Academy Awards.

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3. Standout Supporting Cast

• Naomi Ackie as Commander Nash: A morally complex leader torn between corporate orders and empathy.

• Steven Yeun as AI Supervisor “Gus”: Delivers dark humor as a malfunctioning android.

• Toni Collette as CEO Helena Voss: Chilling portrayal of corporate greed (compared to Succession’s Logan Roy).

Fan Favorite: Yeun’s viral “Gus Fails” compilation has 28M+ views on TikTok.

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4. Bold Marketing Strategy

Warner Bros. leaned into the film’s absurdity:

• Clone Casting Calls: Fans submitted videos to “play Mickey 8” in a contest.

• AI-Generated Trailers: Viewers input moods (e.g., “horror” or “comedy”) to customize previews.

• Mystery Box Offices: Pop-up theaters disguised as “corporate cloning labs.”

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5. Themes That Resonated in 2025

• AI Anxiety: Released during debates over AI replacing creative jobs.

• Climate Parallels: Niflheim’s toxic environment mirrors Earth’s climate crisis.

• Labor Rights: Strikes by Mickey clones sparked memes about unionizing.

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Behind-the-Scenes Secrets

• Practical Effects: 80% of clone scenes used body doubles (not CGI).

• Improvised Lines: Pattinson ad-libbed Mickey 4’s rant about “space capitalism.”

• Hidden Cameo: Parasite’s Song Kang-ho appears as a clone technician.

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Controversies That Fueled Buzz

• PETA Criticism: Animal rights groups protested the “Rat Scene” (a clone eats a lab rat).

• Spoiler Leaks: Bong reshaped the third act after plot twists leaked on Reddit.

• Director’s Cut Demands: Fans petitioned for a 4-hour version after Bong hinted at cut subplots.

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Is a Sequel Coming?

While Mickey 17 ends conclusively, Bong teased:

“There are infinite Mickeys in infinite universes. Who knows?”

Spin-off Rumors:

• Gus: The AI Chronicles (animated series)

• Niflheim Files (video game by Hideo Kojima’s studio)