Sci-fi movie that flew under the radar this year is set to hit the streaming platform
In the realm of sci-fi cinema, director Bong Joon Ho's latest offering, "Mickey 17," is a standout. Starring Robert Pattinson, Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, Naomi Ackie, and Steven Yeun, this near-future film presents an intriguing premise: a colonist named Mickey, who repeatedly dies on dangerous missions and is resurrected with memories of his past lives.
As Mickey begins to question his existence and the morality behind his repeated deaths and cloning, the plot delves into themes of identity, humanity, and survival. The film's exploration of these themes is complemented by its unique blend of clones, social commentary, and dark humour, with Pattinson playing multiple variants of Mickey with distinct mannerisms.
Upon its release on May 23, 2025, both on HBO Max and in theatres, "Mickey 17" garnered significant attention. It quickly found a place among the top 10 most-watched movies on HBO Max, with 198 million minutes viewed, praised for its bold, quirky energy and eccentric lead performance by Pattinson.
Reception of the film has been generally positive, with praise for the acting performances, particularly Pattinson's convincing portrayal of multiple versions of the character. However, the film's story has been noted as somewhat messy and branching into multiple themes towards the end, which may have divided audiences.
Some viewers appreciated the genuine relationship between Mickey and a character named Nasha, while others criticized Ackie's performance. The film is rated R and is recommended for mature audiences due to its themes and content.
In "Mickey 17," Mark Ruffalo plays an all-too-recognizable right-wing political leader, and Toni Collette plays the creepily cheerful wife of this character. Steven Yeun plays Mickey's questionable friend, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.
"Mickey 17" is a unique, weird, and infinitely watchable film. Bong Joon Ho's direction is wild and unforgettable, making it a compelling alternative to the new Mission: Impossible in theatres. If you're looking for something fresh and thought-provoking, "Mickey 17" is definitely worth a watch.
Gizmodo praised "Mickey 17" as a standout near-future film, complimenting its exploration of identity, humanity, and survival in the realm of sci-fi cinema. Io9 included the movie in its list of anticipated movies-and-tv, expressing excitement for its blend of clones, social commentary, and dark humor. The Entertainment Weekly review noted the film's messy story toward the end but praised Pattinson's convincing portrayal of multiple Mickey variants.
In their review, The Verge called "Mickey 17" a unique, weird, and infinitely watchable film, describing Bong Joon Ho's direction as wild and unforgettable, making it a compelling alternative to the new Mission: Impossible in theaters. Meanwhile, TechRadar recommended "Mickey 17" to those looking for something fresh and thought-provoking.
