Mickey 17 First Reactions Are In – Does Bong Joon Ho's New Movie Live Up To Parasite?

The first reactions to Bong Joon Ho's latest film, Mickey 17, have emerged. Coming off the acclaim of Best Picture winner Parasite, the director's latest project is a sci-fi dark comedy based on Edward Ashton's novel Mickey7. The film stars Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, who becomes an "expendable" worker on a dangerous mission to colonize an icy planet—regenerating a new version of himself after each death. The ensemble cast of Mickey 17includes Toni Collette, Naomi Ackie, Mark Ruffalo, and Steven Yeun.

Now, critics have taken to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share their thoughts on Bong Joon Ho's latest project, praising Mickey 17's as a worthy successor to Parasite—packed with the director's signature social commentary and darkly comedic tone. The film premiered in London and is set for a U.S. theatrical release on March 7. Check out the first reactions below:

Erik Davis of Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes said Bong Joon Ho's latest was "an absolute riot" which settles into "something more powerful and timely" in the latter half of the film. The writer also praised Robert Pattinson and Mark Ruffalo for their performances, dubbing the former as the "most versatile [actor] working today."

BJ Colangelo of SlashFilm praised the film as Bong's "best English-language film"yet, with a heartfelt yet darkly comedic take on "capitalism, colonization, and corruption" and a "sublime" cast.

The Nerds of Color podcast affirmed Bong's Mickey 17 as "mind blowing,hilarious,""weird, smart, and wonderful," and the director's "most epic film to date!" They also praised Robert Pattinson's performance as "stellar" alongside the ensemble cast, although likened the film more closely to the director's film Okja than Parasite.

Rachel Leishman of The Mary Sue said the film was everything they love about Bong Joon Ho's work as a "weird, twisted" story with a critical lens on "colonization, consumerism, and more." Leishman also praised Pattinson's performance, saying "you can never have 'too many' Robert Pattinsons."

Liam Crowley at ScreenRant praised the film as a "chaotically charismatic, thought-provoking cautionary tale," while applauding Pattinson and Ruffalo's performances. However, they wished the film had "more traditional darkness" than black comedy.

Emily Murray at GamesRadar+ and SFX also pointed out the specific brilliance of Robert Pattinson and Mark Ruffalo's performances, ultimately praising Bong Joon Ho's follow-up to Parasite as a "thrilling, unexpected sci-fi drama"that feels "incredibly urgent to today's world."

Managing Editor of DiscussingFilm, Andrew Salazar, wrote that Mickey 17 was "both subtle and brash when needed," comparing Bong Joon Ho's comedic touch to that of Starship Troopers director Paul Verhoeven. Salazar also commended Robert Pattinson's dual performance as "crazy subversive and hilarious."

Barry Hertz at The Globeand Mail mused that director Bong Joon Ho must've gotten the final cut on a "deeply chaotic tour into humanity's worst instinct,"while applauding Mark Ruffalo's performance as the "best Trump of our generation."

What Mickey 17's First Reactions Mean

Bong Joon Ho Continues His Bold Take On Power And People

Early reviews of Mickey 17 suggest Bong Joon Ho's new sci-fi movie is yet another ambitious and unique entry in his filmography. With its mix of existential philosophy, black comedy, and sci-fi spectacle, the film appears to continue Bong’s tradition of dissecting power structures in unexpected ways. While Parasite solidified his status as one of the most acclaimed directors of the 21st century, Mickey 17 marks his return to English-language filmmaking and the sci-fi genre, following Snowpiercer and Okja.

Despite its early praise, Mickey 17 will premiere in the U.S. during a weak spot in the theatrical calendar. Studios often avoid releasing awards-contender films in March, as it falls between the height of Oscar season and the start of summer blockbusters. In contrast, Parasite debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019, which built strong momentum along the festival circuit, leading to its historic Oscar win. Mickey 17’s placement could indicate a different awards trajectory or a focus on box office performance rather than Oscar recognition.

Our Take On Mickey 17's Early Reviews

Genre-Bending, Thought-Provoking, And Utterly Bong

Mickey (Robert Pattinson) undergoing an electroencephalogram in Mickey 17

Bong Joon Ho continues to push boundaries with Mickey 17, delivering a sci-fi spectacle that takes on existential dread with the director's signature bite. Moreover, Robert Pattinson’s eccentric performance reaffirms his reputation as the most versatile star of the era. Whether the film reaches the same cultural impact as Parasite or carves its own path, Mickey 17 is shaping up to be another fascinating and thought-provoking entry in Bong’s filmography.

Source: Various (see above)