The film "Mickey 17" (directed by Bong Joon-ho) is on an unstoppable box office streak, surpassing 1 million viewers just four days after its release. According to the integrated computer network of the Korean Film Council, "Mickey 17" recorded a total of 1,117,586 viewers as of 6:55 a.m. on the 3rd. It held the first position at the box office throughout the Independence Movement Day holiday.
"Mickey 17" reached the 1 million mark at a faster pace than Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" by one day. It aims to surpass last year's highest-grossing foreign film, "Inside Out 2" (directed by Kelsey Mann).
The movie revolves around "Mickey," an expendable who is reprinted after death. The story unfolds when "Mickey 18" is printed as Mickey faces his 17th death crisis.
Robert Pattinson plays Mickey, who holds the extreme job of dying and being reprinted. He takes on dual roles, portraying two drastically different Mickeys.
The film is said to encapsulate a new world of director Bong Joon-ho, described as a vibrant sci-fi work. It captures human joys and sorrows over 137 minutes, skillfully blending poignant messages with humor.
Critic Lee Dong-jin gave it 4 out of 5 stars. He praised the film, saying, "The intriguing paradox that expands as you dig deeper is captured in humor that sparkles like the morning star." He noted its intriguing treatment of paradox across genres.
The UK's "Independent" gave it a perfect score, stating, "The film is warm yet cynical, violent yet humanistic, and Bong Joon-ho offers us enlightenment."
U.S. publication "IndieWire" considered "Mickey 17" Bong's best English-language film, viewing it as a work combining the strengths of "Snowpiercer" and "Okja."
Future box office success seems likely. As of 9:40 a.m. on the 3rd, the real-time reservation rate for "Mickey 17" stands at 53.3%. It holds a commanding lead, with over 140,000 people having already booked tickets.
<Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea Co., Ltd., Integrated Computer Network for Movie Tickets>
