‘Mickey 17’ Projected to Lose $75 Million in Theatrical Run

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The unconventional sci-fi comedy ‘Mickey 17,’ directed by Bong Joon Ho, seems destined to become a financial disappointment for Warner Bros., given its underwhelming performance at the box office.

The movie featuring Robert Pattinson as a clone who performs low-level jobs in a future dystopia might end up losing somewhere between 75 million and 80 million dollars during its cinematic release, predict three individuals familiar with the financial aspects of such films. However, someone close to the production claims that the actual losses are much lower than that, stating they’re “substantially smaller.

Two weeks following its debut, the movie “Mickey 17” has brought in $35.7 million in domestic sales and $92.2 million globally. Originally, it was anticipated that the film’s total worldwide earnings would reach between $175 million and $180 million, with $52 million coming from domestic box office and $123 million from international sales. However, more recent projections suggest a lower figure of $143 million worldwide, with $46 million in the U.S. and $97 million from other countries. The financial point at which “Mickey 17” breaks even is approximately $300 million. Generally, movies don’t turn a profit solely from their initial box office sales; they often become profitable once licensed for television, streaming services, and on-demand viewing. Unfortunately, due to its current box office performance, “Mickey 17” will enter the home entertainment market at a loss.

The film titled “Mickey 17” had a production cost of $118 million, considering tax rebates, which is quite expensive for an innovative, unconventional space adventure. Warner Bros. added another $80 million to this figure for marketing expenses, including a $4 million advertisement during the AFC championship game. It’s rumored that, in the days prior to its theater release, they reduced some promotional efforts, which could have saved them millions of dollars.

The reception for “Mickey 17” has been generally favorable, with critics commending it for its visually innovative and daring storyline. Released prior to the appointment of current studio heads Mike De Lua and Pam Abdy, this movie marked a career peak for director Bong, following the incredible success of his previous work “Parasite” at the Oscars, where it won best picture and grossed significantly. However, original films, even those helmed by renowned directors like Bong and boasting A-list stars such as Pattinson, who is famous for starring in blockbuster series like “Twilight” and “The Batman,” often face difficulties at the box office. The audience response was varied; “Mickey 17” received a “B” grade from CinemaScore exit polls, which didn’t boost its buzz.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that “Mickey 17” is one of the ambitious projects Warner Bros. has on the plate this year. Over the coming weekend, they’ll be releasing Robert De Niro’s mob drama, “Alto Knights,” which, according to predictions, may not fare well with an opening of $2 million to $3 million against a whopping budget of $45 million.

Another high-stakes endeavor from Warner Bros., set to debut around the same time, is Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and carrying a hefty price tag of $130 million.

Compared to other spring and summer releases like the much-anticipated “A Minecraft Movie,” James Gunn’s “Superman” reboot, and Ryan Coogler’s Michael B. Jordan-starring vampire thriller “Sinners,” these upcoming productions appear to be riskier bets, at least financially speaking.

Interestingly, Warner Bros. has recently shuffled the release dates for several titles, including Maggie Gyllenhaal’s $80 million “Frankenstein” spinoff, “The Bride!”, which is now slated for 2026.

2025 has seen disappointing overall box office earnings so far. Original films like Paramount’s action comedy “Novocaine” and Focus Features’ spy thriller “Black Bag,” as well as franchise movies such as Disney’s “Captain America: Brave New World” and Sony’s “Paddington in Peru,” have been unable to attract large audiences, underperforming compared to their predecessors. Consequently, the year-to-date revenues are currently 5% lower than 2024 and an astounding 38% below the figures from 2019, according to Comscore. Will the upcoming potential blockbusters like “A Minecraft Movie,” “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,” “Jurassic World Rebirth,” “Lilo & Stitch,” and the remake of “How to Train Your Dragon” manage to revive the fortunes of cinemas and potentially even generate profits for their studios?

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2025-03-20 20:17