Mickey 17 is a 2025 science fiction dark comedy film directed by Bong Joon-ho, based on Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7. The movie stars Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, alongside Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo.
The story follows Mickey Barnes, an “Expendable” on a space colonization mission to the icy planet Niflheim. As an expendable, Mickey is tasked with life-threatening assignments, knowing that every time he dies, he is “reprinted” using cloning technology. This technology, banned on Earth, allows Mickey to retain most of his memories after each death. However, complications arise when Mickey 17, the seventeenth iteration, survives an incident only to discover that his replacement, Mickey 18, has already been created. The existence of multiple clones is strictly forbidden, leading to a tense conflict between the two versions of Mickey and the colony’s leadership.
The film delves into themes of identity, immortality, and the ethics of cloning, while also serving as a critique of capitalism and dehumanization in the workplace. Bong Joon-ho blends dark humor with existential reflection, creating a narrative that is both absurd and thought-provoking.
Robert Pattinson delivers a standout performance, portraying both Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 with depth and nuance. The film’s satirical tone and exploration of oppressive systems echo Bong Joon-ho’s previous works, such as Parasite and Snowpiercer