The long-awaited annual blockbuster “Mickey 17” has finally landed in Hong Kong! Directed by Bong Joon-ho, who won the Oscar for Best Director with “Parasite” five years ago, in collaboration with Robert Pattinson from “The Batman,” this powerful film explores the value of life and social class through the theme of replicants. Combining a unique “Bong-style” with Hollywood production, it has achieved a box office of 9 million dollars in just four days since its premiere in Korea! Let’s take a look at the 8 highlights of “Mickey 17”!
“Introduction to the movie ‘Mickey No. 17′”
The sci-fi film “Mickey 17,” presented by Warner Bros. Pictures and based on the bestselling novel “Mickey 7” by Edward Ashton, tells the story of Mickey, played by Robert Pattinson, who finds himself in an unusual situation as a “replaceable” character—each time he sacrifices himself on a mission, he is reprinted with a new body but retains his original memories. However, when Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 coexist, an identity crisis ensues.
The film features a star-studded cast, with popular stars like Robert Pattinson from “Tenet” and “The Batman” in the lead role, alongside powerful actors such as John David Washington from “The Equalizer,” Toni Collette from “Hereditary,” Steven Yeun from “Minari,” and Naomi Ackie from “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” The movie was released in South Korea on February 28 and achieved a box office of $9 million within four days, setting the record for the highest opening weekend since 2025 and marking Warner Bros.’ best performance since 2019.
“8 Highlights of Mickey No. 17”
Point 1 of “Mickey No. 17”: A Stunning Vision Adapted from a Science Fiction Novel
“Mickey 17” is adapted from Edward Aston’s bestselling novel “Mickey 7” — a heroic tale about a mysterious figure: Mickey finds himself in an unusual predicament, where to fulfill the demands of his employer, he must survive by dying repeatedly in exchange for life. As a replaceable being, he receives a new body whenever he is sacrificed on a mission, while his memories are retained. However, reaching number 17 breaks the existing pattern, with number 18 appearing simultaneously, causing quite a stir. Director Bong Joon-ho boldly expands on the original material; in the book, the protagonist only dies 7 times, but the film increases that number to 17, showcasing a deeper layer of the tragedy of survival.
“Highlight 2 of ‘Mickey 17’: Director Bong Joon-ho’s Unique Return to Dark Humor”
Director Bong Joon-ho continues to push the boundaries of dark humor, with “Mickey 17” containing sharp critiques of human nature and class distinctions. He seamlessly blends his keen social observations and dark humor into a science fiction setting. The director remarks, “This is not a grand space epic where people shoot lasers. It’s more about these foolish failures. This film is filled with charmingly silly characters.” This warm and humorous approach allows the audience to ponder profound issues amidst laughter.
Highlight 3 of “Mickey 17”: Robert Pattinson’s Dual Role Challenge
The two characters played by the same actor must be very clearly distinguished, yet at the same time, others cannot tell that they are actually different. Director Bong Joon-ho initially wanted character 18 to have chubby cheeks, so he experimented with all these cheek fillers, but ultimately it was just a very small crooked tooth that slightly tilted character 18’s face.
Robert Pattinson plays both Mickey 17 and Mickey 18, showcasing his incredible acting skills. He collaborated with Bong Joon-ho to create subtle differences between the characters—just a crooked tooth transformed the acting style and character disposition entirely. Robert stated, “It’s like looking at myself in the mirror; Mickey 17 is unaware that he is still alive, while 18 desperately wants to live and cannot tolerate 17’s condescending manner.”
Highlight 4 of “Mickey No. 17”: The conceptual sci-fi setting provokes deep reflection.
The concept of “human printing” in the film is both futuristic and thought-provoking, which was also the element that initially attracted Bong Joon-ho. Director Bong Joon-ho stated: a very unique concept, as if you print out a human, making it seem like humans are merely paper, and documents can be printed out. I believe human printing— even in its very expression— allows us to feel the tragedy of this condition and profession.
This setting challenges traditional definitions of life—if memories can be retained and transferred to a new body, what is the essence of being human? When number 17 and number 18 coexist, who is the “real” Mickey? Bong Joon-ho cleverly intertwines these philosophical musings within a sci-fi narrative, prompting the audience to unknowingly confront humanity’s most fundamental existence issues amid intense and thrilling plot developments. Through this sci-fi framework, the film delves into deep themes of identity, the value of life, and the meaning of sacrifice, while also alluding to the plight of “replaceable labor” in contemporary society, reflecting Bong Joon-ho’s consistent social concern.
Point 5 of “Mickey No. 17”: Stunning special effects bring the eerie creatures “Creepers” to life.
The creature “Creepers” in the movie is a unique being, half insect and half mammal, evolved to survive in harsh environments. They have rows of teeth and claws capable of drilling through ice and rock, and their bodies resemble a croissant, with centipede-like legs on each segment. The production team combined puppetry and visual effects to create stunning results, bringing these creatures to life.
Point Six of “Mickey 17”: Astonishing Scene Design and Visual Style
Due to the limited space and weight capacity of the studio, the constructed container is only half the size of a real shipping container, made on site with vacuum-formed plastic sheets and steel. The art department created graphics to refine them and enhance their realism; the container is equipped with two tiers of animal cages, where Mickey 17, Mickey 18, and Nasha are depicted as being confined inside.
Designer Fiona Crombie has presented a unique aesthetic style for the spaceship, inspired by early industrial vessels. Each scene is meticulously crafted, from the crew quarters to Kenny and Iha’s luxurious pink-gilded apartment, reflecting class differences throughout. The cold white landscape of the planet Nifolheim starkly contrasts with the metallic feel inside the ship.
“Point Seven of Mickey No. 17: The Extreme Representation of Social Class Differences”
“MiXi 17” continues Bong Joon-ho’s focus on social class issues, cleverly showcasing the class differences in a futuristic world through clothing, settings, and character relationships. Costume designer Catherine George utilized a color layering system, designing the ordinary crew outfits in monotonous gray with a distressed treatment, while Kenny and I-Hua are dressed in flamboyant shades of pink and gold, exuding luxury and opulence.
The allocation of space also reflects class differences—crew members are crammed into small rooms, while management enjoys spacious and luxurious quarters. This stark visual contrast allows the audience to intuitively perceive the social stratification that still exists in the future world, embodying Bong Joon-ho’s consistent social critique.
“Highlight Eight of Mickey 17: The Heroic Tale of Ordinary People”
“Bullet Train” essentially tells a story about an ordinary person who unexpectedly becomes a hero. Bong Joon-ho stated, “This is a story about young people and the working class. It portrays a powerless individual who becomes a hero by chance. I believe this is the kind of story contemporary audiences want to see.” The courage and humanity displayed by an ordinary person in extreme circumstances is the core appeal of the film.