In 2025, the film landscape is witnessing a shift away from traditional franchise filmmaking, offering unique and ambitious projects like “Sinners” and Bong Joon Ho’s “Mickey 17.” The latter, released this spring, showcases an original narrative that diverges from typical blockbuster formats, despite not achieving the box office success of “Sinners.”
“Mickey 17” features a strong supporting cast, including Toni Collette, Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, and Mark Ruffalo, and allows its characters to express their desires openly, a refreshing rarity in current cinema. However, the film has been criticized for its mediocre box office performance, seen, in part, as a challenge for Hollywood’s ability to market cross-genre films, particularly when juxtaposing Bong’s Oscar-winning “Parasite” with this whimsical sci-fi comedy.
The film presents a near-future world where cloning technology called reprinting has led to a dystopian society, effectively creating a new form of indentured servitude. The protagonist, Mickey, portrayed by Robert Pattinson, is depicted as an “expendable” worker forced to undertake hazardous jobs in space. The narrative cleverly mixes dark humor with social commentary that reflects Bong’s recurring themes of anti-capitalism, best seen in his previous works like “Parasite.”
In “Mickey 17,” the plot thickens with Mickey’s encounters with the alien species, the Creepers, leading to moral dilemmas and a critique of colonialism. The film’s exploration of identity, particularly through the introduction of Mickey 18, an alternative version of the protagonist, enhances its depth.
As “Mickey 17” arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, featuring **three insightful featurettes** that delve into Bong Joon Ho’s creative vision and the film’s thematic elements, viewers now have the opportunity to experience this film with enhanced visual quality. Despite its mixed reception, “Mickey 17” stands as a testament to Bong’s knack for weaving complex narratives that challenge societal norms, making it a must-watch for fans of innovative cinema.
Given its layered commentary and thematic richness, “Mickey 17” can spark discussions about contemporary societal issues while also providing a unique cinematic experience filled with dark humor and intriguing characters.