Bong Joon-ho's 'Mickey 17' Global Release and Box Office Success

The highly anticipated Hollywood sci-fi film 'Mickey 17', directed by Bong Joon-ho, is expanding its global release. In South Korea, it has shown the fastest box office growth among this year's releases, and its international rollout, including North America and China, is generating buzz for a potential '#BongHive' phenomenon.

Having premiered in South Korea on February 28, 'Mickey 17' quickly surpassed 1 million viewers just four days after its release, marking a strong start. According to the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network, by March 9 at 11:33 AM, the film had accumulated 2,001,220 viewers, successfully reaching the 2 million mark. As the only new release following the March 1st holiday, 'Mickey 17' has consistently held the top spot at the box office, proving its worth.

With its domestic success, 'Mickey 17' is now making waves in North America. On March 7, the film debuted in North America, earning $2.5 million (approximately 36.2 billion KRW) from a preview screening the day before. On its official opening day, it grossed $7.7 million (around 111.6 billion KRW). If this momentum continues, projections suggest it could reach $20 million (about 289.9 billion KRW) by the end of its opening weekend, with worldwide earnings estimated at $45 million (approximately 652.4 billion KRW).

However, March is traditionally a challenging month for Hollywood releases, and with a production budget of $118 million (around 1.7 trillion KRW), there are concerns about 'Mickey 17' reaching its break-even point of $300 million (approximately 4.3 trillion KRW). Despite this, the lack of significant competition raises hopes for long-term box office success.

Additionally, 'Mickey 17' is set to release in seven major cities in China on the same day as its North American debut, sparking optimism regarding the easing of the Korean Wave ban (한한령) in China. Since the THAAD incident in 2016, the unofficial restrictions on Korean films and directors have made official releases nearly impossible. While some Korean films have been showcased at festivals and on OTT platforms, they have not been able to secure theatrical releases.

The lifting of the ban seems to be gradually occurring with 'Mickey 17's' official release in China. Although the film is categorized as a Hollywood production by Warner Bros. in China, local media are emphasizing its connection to Bong Joon-ho, suggesting a positive reception in the market.