Here’s the good news: Director Joon-ho Bong is having his highest-earning performing weekend for the sci-fi comedy starring Robert Pattinson.
The bad news? It’s on par with Brad Pitt’s Ad Astra from 2019, which had a $19 million debut, and Mickey 17 barely topped Water for Elephants (which Pattinson starred in back in 2011). Not a great turnout for the $118 million-budgeted feature, and inarguably one that could’ve benefitted from an inflation-less environment or a theatrical output that suggested folks want to spend their dollars. It’s hard to get audiences to switch up the antics when recent output has delivered what we’ve requested: non-franchise, star-leading films deemed adequate to excellent quality. And sure, online media outlets can slander to claim Snow White is “woke garbage” or Minecraft is “bland IP placement.” Still, you’d be hard-pressed to realize audiences aren’t giving a s*** for original concept films this year thus far and will still show up for the big blockbusters they continue to lambast. Genuinely, the only film thus far in 2025 that may be deemed an original, standalone “breakout” is One of Them Days (which is still holding out in theaters on its 8th weekend by nearing $50 million domestically on a $14 million budget).
So Mickey 17 will not only have a boatload of competition for its demographics in the coming weeks but will most assuredly not reach a break-even point. There’s a reason why standard bearer directors like Michael Bay and James Cameron scorn the environment: Hollywood has taken a fumble for the worst concerning originals making a return on their investments.
In other news, Captain America: Brave New World passed $175 million domestically and $370 million worldwide in its fourth weekend. Yes, it will pass $400 million worldwide and probably skimp over $200 million domestically. However, by inflation adjustments, it will have sold fewer domestic tickets than its “predecessor,” The Incredible Hulk. To reiterate, the three critical things working against the MCU right now are A) a deteriorating output since Avengers: Endgame (credit where it’s due for Shang-Chi, and a moment of silence for Wakanda Forever in the absence of Chadwick Boseman), B) a continued urge to grasp onto sub-series IP for nostalgia sake (think No Way Home, Deadpool & Wolverine, and even Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), and C) demolishing character and ambition (think Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Thor: Love and Thunder). Thunderbolts, it’s a make or break come summertime.
Last Breath earned $4.2 million in its second weekend, as it inches to $15 million domestically. The Monkey has now become NEON’s third-biggest earner behind Parasite and Longlegs. Paddington in Peru has passed $175 million worldwide; Dog Man will reach $120 million worldwide by tonight, and Anora was put back into theaters after its Academy Awards showing to take in $1.86 million.
Oh, and Mufasa: The Lion King has passed $250 million domestically. Those winter legs are Disney’s biggest gem.
Next weekend, we will see the release of Novocaine, Black Bag, Opus, The Actor, and The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.
