Bong Joon Ho’s latest science fiction film “Mickey 17” has emerged as the top earner at the North American box office this weekend. The film, starring Robert Pattinson, managed to collect $19.1 million upon its debut, successfully overtaking “Captain America: Brave New World,” which previously held the top position for three weeks. Internationally, “Mickey 17” has garnered an impressive $34.2 million, contributing to a total global revenue of $53.3 million. Despite this success, the film faces a challenging road ahead to profitability, given its hefty production cost of $118 million, excluding marketing expenses.
The film’s launch follows the Oscars, where “Anora” director Sean Baker emphasized the value of the theatrical movie-going experience. “Mickey 17” stands as an emblem of this discussion with its release by Warner Bros., reflecting a blend of original storytelling by an Oscar-winning director and substantial production backing. Despite strong reviews and a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences have yet to embrace it as an event film, which could affect its financial success.
Initially set for a March 2024 release, “Mickey 17” experienced delays due to Hollywood strikes. Based on Edward Ashton’s novel “Mickey7,” the film features Pattinson as a recurring expendable worker. It also stars Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. The movie opened in 3,807 locations across the U.S., with notable performances in New York and Los Angeles, where premium large format screenings, including IMAX, accounted for almost half of ticket sales. Success was particularly strong in Korea, with earnings of approximately $14.6 million.
Warner Bros.’ Jeff Goldstein commented on the audience’s preference for premium formats, emphasizing the director’s status as a marquee filmmaker capable of attracting audiences. The upcoming weeks appear favorable for “Mickey 17,” with no major competitive releases anticipated.
In second place, “Captain America: Brave New World” drew in an additional $8.5 million domestically and $9.2 million overseas, achieving a total global gross of $370.8 million. The Walt Disney Studios is nearing a significant milestone, poised to reach $1 billion in 2025 this week.
Other films contributing to the weekend’s box office included “Last Breath,” “The Monkey,” and “Paddington in Peru.” New releases such as “In the Lost Lands,” featuring Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista, and Angel Studios’ “Rule Breakers,” a film about an Afghani girls’ robotics team, also entered the mix. Following its Oscar success, “Anora” increased its theater presence significantly, earning $1.9 million, an impressive 595% rise, bringing its cumulative earnings to $18.4 million.
According to recent box office data, the 2025 overall earnings have risen 1% compared to the previous year but remain 34.2% lower than the pre-pandemic figures of 2019. Paul Dergarabedian from Comscore remarked on the fluctuating nature of box office trends, highlighting the significant impact brief declines can have on financial standings. Nonetheless, he expressed optimism for a rebound.
Estimated weekend revenue figures for U.S. and Canadian theaters are presented by Comscore, with final domestic numbers expected on Monday:
1. “Mickey 17,” $19.1 million.
2. “Captain America: Brave New World,” $8.5 million.
3. “Last Breath,” $4.2 million.
4. “The Monkey,” $3.9 million.
5. “Paddington in Peru,” $3.9 million.
6. “Dog Man,” $3.5 million.
7. “Anora,” $1.9 million.
8. “Mufasa: The Lion King,” $1.7 million.
9. “Rule Breakers,” $1.6 million.
10. “In the Lost Land,” $1 million.
