If solely Warner Bros. might reprint cash in the best way that scientists reprint Robert Pattinson’s physique in “Mickey 17.” The goofy sci-fi comedy ignited to $24 million abroad and greater than $50 million globally, a good begin for an unique movie within the present theatrical panorama. It simply value method an excessive amount of to ever flip a revenue on this lifetime.
The R-rated film, directed by Bong Joon Ho and starring Robert Pattinson, opened on Feb. 28 in Korea (Bong’s residence nation) and has since grossed $34.2 million abroad and $53.3 million globally. These ticket gross sales embody a muted $19.1 million debut in North America.
Credit score to Bong, identified for acclaimed movies like greatest image winner “Parasite” and “Snowpiercer,” and Pattinson, the A-lister who has navigated blockbuster franchises like “Twilight,” “Harry Potter” and “The Batman” in between a smattering of indies, for opening “Mickey 17” above $50 million. It’s a formidable launch for a contemporary, offbeat house odyssey a couple of disposable worker whose physique is ready to regenerate for science.
Right here’s the issue: Warner Bros. studio chiefs Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca granted a head-scratching $118 million to spend on manufacturing (replicating Pattinson doesn’t come low-cost!) and one other $80 million on advertising and marketing. Had “Mickey 17” value, say, $50 million — not nothing for an R-rated social satire with an arthouse sheen — the movie could be properly positioned at this level in its theatrical run. But given the film’s economics, “Mickey 17” must earn round $275 million to $300 million globally to get into the black throughout its large display screen run, in accordance with rival executives with data of comparable productions.
“A begin of $53 million is an effective quantity,” says Warner Bros. president of world distribution Jeff Goldstein. “While you put it in opposition to what it value, it’s extra of a problem.”
“Mickey 17” has touched down in almost each main theatrical market. Prime-earning territories embody Korea with $14.6 million after two weekends of launch, adopted by France with $2.9 million to begin and the UK with $2.7 million to begin. The movie flopped in China with $1.3 million in its debut. Imax, Dolby and different premium massive codecs accounted for 47% of opening weekend ticket gross sales.
Tailored from Edward Ashton’s novel “Mickey7,” the movie follows Pattinson as an expendable employee who is ready to be reprinted (permitting the actor to he play a number of variations of the identical character). He’s despatched on a human expedition to colonize the inhospitable ice world generally known as Niflheim, the place he dies over and time and again. Problems come up when one of many Mickeys is presumed lifeless and a alternative duplicate tries to take his place. Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette and Mark Ruffalo spherical out the forged. Viewers scores and opinions have been blended with a “B” grade on CinemaScore and 79% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Elsewhere on the worldwide field workplace, Disney Marvel’s journey “Captain America: Courageous New World” added $9.2 million from 52 territories. The superhero sequel will finish the weekend with $194.2 million domestically and 370.8 worldwide, a stable tally besides — like “Mickey 17” — its outsized price ticket will make it tough to forge a path to profitability. The tentpole value greater than $180 million to provide and roughly $100 million to advertise to world audiences.
