Bong Joon-ho's 'Mickey 17' Breaks New Ground in Sci-Fi Cinema

On March 10, 2025, a press conference for Bong Joon-ho's latest film, 'Mickey 17', was held at CGV Yongsan. The film, based on Edward Ashton's 2022 novel 'Mickey 7', tells the unpredictable story of Mickey, a disposable worker who is printed anew each time he dies. As he faces his 17th death, a new version, Mickey 18, is printed, leading to unforeseen consequences.

'Mickey 17' has garnered global attention, especially as it marks Bong Joon-ho's return to filmmaking after six years. The acclaimed director, who made history at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020 with 'Parasite' (2019), winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film, has raised expectations even higher with this new project produced by Warner Bros. This film is Bong's third English-language feature, following 'Snowpiercer' (2013) and 'Okja' (2017).

The film premiered in South Korea on February 28, 2025, and quickly dominated the box office, reaching 1 million viewers within three days and 2 million in ten days. It maintained the top spot at the box office for ten consecutive days, showcasing its overwhelming popularity.

On March 7, 'Mickey 17' was released in North America and several other countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Brazil, Taiwan, and China. Despite being released during a typically slow season for films, it demonstrated significant ticket power. In North America alone, it earned $7.7 million on its opening day, followed by $6.7 million and $4.7 million on the subsequent days, totaling $19.1 million over the opening weekend. Although it fell slightly short of the anticipated $20 million, it performed well given the challenging market conditions.

Adding to its success, 'Mickey 17' grossed an additional $34.2 million from international markets, bringing its total global earnings for the opening week to $53.3 million.

With this impressive performance, 'Mickey 17' has not only marked a successful return for Bong Joon-ho but also made him the first Korean director to achieve a number one box office ranking in North America. This adds to his remarkable accolades, including being the first Korean to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Best Picture award at the Academy Awards. The film also topped the box office in France, the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy, further solidifying Bong Joon-ho's influence in the film industry.