Bong Joon-ho's latest film, "Mickey 17," debuted at No. 1 at the North American box office over the weekend, making history as the first film by a Korean director to debut in the top spot.
However, its opening-weekend earnings fell short of industry projections, raising concerns over its ability to recoup its substantial production and marketing costs.
According to Box Office Mojo, a U.S.-based online tracker of box-office revenue, on Sunday, "Mickey 17" earned $19.1 million from 3,807 theaters in North America during its opening weekend.
The American sci-fi black comedy grossed an additional $34.2 million internationally, bringing its global total to $53.3 million.
Among international markets, South Korea led with the highest earnings ($9 million in its opening week), followed by France ($2.9 million) and Britain ($2.7 million).
In South Korea, it has topped the box office for 10 consecutive days since it opened on Feb. 28, attracting more than 2 million admissions.
"Mickey 17" is Bong's adaptation of Edward Ashton's novel "Mickey7," starring Robert Pattinson as a young, heavily indebted man who joins an intergalactic expedition as an "expendable" -- a worker doomed to labor until death, only to be revived through "reprinting" technology.
Industry analysts had initially estimated the film would earn around $20 million in its North American opening weekend. However, its actual performance has sparked concerns within Hollywood media circles about its long-term profitability.
According to Variety, Warner Bros. invested $118 million in production costs and an additional $80 million in marketing. Industry insiders suggest that for "Mickey 17" to break even in its theatrical run, it would need to gross between $275 million and $300 million worldwide.
"Mickey 17" has garnered significant attention in Hollywood as Bong's first film in five years following "Parasite," which won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, in 2020. (Yonhap)
