Here’s the content summarized and expanded into six paragraphs:
1. Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17” is one of the first films in Warner Bros.’ ambitious lineup for 2025, featuring high-profile directors like Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson. Despite its star-studded cast, including Robert Pattinson, the film’s opening weekend box office performance has been underwhelming. Earning $7.7 million from 3,807 locations, it’s on track to bring in around $18 million over its debut weekend. However, this modest start is concerning given the film’s hefty $118 million production budget, not to mention additional marketing and distribution costs that could push its total expenditure over $275 million. Unless it performs exceptionally well globally, it may struggle to turn a profit.
2. “Mickey 17” is set to dominate domestic charts, especially in premium formats like Imax, but its debut isn’t strong enough to shake off the current box office slump. “Captain America: Brave New World” has been holding the top spot for nearly a month, despite significant weekly drops. This indicates a broader slowdown in moviegoing that “Mickey 17” hasn’t been able to reverse, despite positive reviews from critics. While the film won’t be a complete failure, its box office performance is a far cry from Bong Joon Ho’s previous success with “Parasite,” which became a cultural phenomenon and grossed over $262 million worldwide.
3. The film’s reception has been mixed among audiences, earning a “B” grade from Cinema Score. This lukewarm response contrasts with the overwhelming enthusiasm for “Parasite,” which not only won several Academy Awards but also became the highest-grossing Korean film in history. The lower audience engagement for “Mickey 17” suggests it may not have the same staying power in theaters, potentially limiting its box office legs. The film’s profitability will heavily depend on its performance in international markets, where Bong Joon Ho’s films have traditionally performed well.
4. Starring alongside Pattinson are notable actors like Mark Ruffalo, Naomi Ackie, Toni Colette, and Steven Yeun. Based on Edward Ashton’s novel “Mickey7,” “Mickey 17” follows the story of an expendable space explorer who uncovers eerie duplicates of himself. Despite its intriguing premise and star power, the film’s underperformance raises questions about whether the ambitious production budgets and marketing strategies of major studios are sustainable in the current cinematic landscape. This is especially true as marquees struggle to draw large audiences amid ongoing competition from streaming platforms.
5. Elsewhere at the box office, Disney’s “Captain America: Brave New World” continues its reign, albeit with diminishing returns. Earning $2.1 million on Friday, the film’s domestic total has reached $170.1 million, making it the highest-grossing film of the year in North America. However, its performance is lackluster compared to other entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ranking 32nd out of 35 installments. With a $180 million production budget, this is hardly the result Disney was hoping for, especially considering the franchise’s usual box office dominance.
6. Rounding out the top spots, Focus Features’ “Last Breath” earned $1.16 million on Friday, on track for a $4.1 million weekend, while Neon’s “The Monkey” continued its strong run with a $1.1 million Friday haul, expected to bring in $3.9 million over the weekend. Sony’s “Paddington in Peru” added $900,000 on Friday, nearing a $37 million domestic total. In more niche releases, Angel Studios’ “Rule Breakers” opened in ninth place with $600,000, while Vertical Entertainment’s “In the Lost Lands” struggled with just $380,000. Meanwhile, Neon’s Oscar-winning “Anora” saw a significant boost in popularity after its Academy Awards victory, expanding to 1,938 theaters and expected to earn another $1.7 million. Despite these smaller successes, the overall box office remains sluggish, highlighting the ongoing challenges for films to capture audience attention in a saturated market.
