Bong Joon Ho’s sci-fi satire Mickey 17 is shaping up to be a financial disappointment for Warner Bros., with the film expected to lose between $75 million and $80 million during its theatrical run, according to sources familiar with the film’s economics. However, a source close to the production disputes these figures, claiming the actual losses are “significantly less.”
The movie, starring Robert Pattinson as a clone performing menial tasks in a futuristic dystopia, has earned $35.7 million domestically and $92.2 million worldwide after two weeks in theaters. Initially projected to reach between $175 million and $180 million globally, revised estimates now suggest a final total of $143 million, falling short of its breakeven point of approximately $300 million. While films rarely recoup their entire budgets from ticket sales alone, a weak theatrical performance negatively impacts downstream revenue from streaming, television, and digital sales.
Despite positive reviews highlighting its visual creativity and bold storytelling, Mickey 17 struggled to attract a broad audience. The film, greenlit before Warner Bros.’ current leadership under Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, followed Bong’s Oscar-winning success with Parasite (2019). However, original films, even those led by acclaimed directors and A-list actors like Pattinson, often face an uphill battle at the box office. Mixed audience reactions—reflected in the film’s “B” grade on CinemaScore—further hindered word-of-mouth momentum.
With a net production budget of $118 million after tax rebates and an additional $80 million spent on marketing, Mickey 17 was a costly gamble. Warner Bros. invested heavily in its promotional campaign, including a $4 million Super Bowl ad, though some efforts were reportedly scaled back before release to minimize losses.
The film’s struggles come amid a challenging year for Hollywood, as several other major releases underperform. Warner Bros.’ upcoming projects include Robert De Niro’s mob drama Alto Knights, which is tracking for a weak opening against its $45 million budget, and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which carries a $130 million price tag. Meanwhile, the studio is banking on more commercial projects such as A Minecraft Movie, James Gunn’s Superman, and Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller Sinners, featuring Michael B. Jordan.
The broader theatrical landscape remains bleak, with 2025 box office revenues trailing 2024 by 5% and lagging 2019 figures by nearly 38%, according to Comscore. Other original films, such as Paramount’s Novocaine and Focus Features’ Black Bag, have similarly failed to gain traction, while franchise installments like Captain America: Brave New World and Paddington in Peru have underperformed compared to their predecessors.
As Hollywood looks ahead to a slate of high-profile releases—including Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, Jurassic World Rebirth, and the live-action remakes of Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon—studios are hoping for a box office rebound. However, the fate of films like Mickey 17 signals the risks of big-budget original projects in an industry increasingly reliant on established franchises.
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