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Bong Joon Ho’s highly anticipated sci-fi film Mickey 17 has finally hit theaters, but the box office numbers aren’t quite the blockbuster success fans were expecting. With a hefty budget of $118 million, the movie's domestic opening weekend brought in just $19.1 million. Naturally, the internet wasted no time in turning this into comedy gold.
Instead of a heated debate over the film’s artistic value or its place in Bong Joon Ho’s already impressive filmography, the discourse quickly shifted to memes. And, let’s be honest, the jokes are writing themselves at this point.
Mickey 17 Box Office Struggles: The Internet Reacts
When the numbers dropped, social media exploded with reactions. A viral post pointing out the film’s underwhelming performance sparked a flood of responses, with fans (and non-fans) chiming in with their best jokes.
One user quipped, “So this is why it’s called Mickey 17… only 17 people bought tickets.”
Another chimed in with,
“Wonder if it will make its money back.”
Some were harsher, calling it the worst movie of the year, while others tried to remind the world that, hey, we’re still in a pandemic.
But perhaps the most cryptic response of all was simply: “They don’t know about the sauce.” And honestly? We don’t know either, but we’re intrigued.
The internet thrives on moments like this. The combination of high expectations, a big-name director, and a box office stumble is the perfect recipe for meme-worthy chaos. One fan tweeted
"mind you, we’re in a pandemic"
Some joked that Robert Pattinson, the film’s lead, should have “called in Batman” to help boost ticket sales. Others wondered if Bong Joon Ho had secretly made a four-hour black-and-white cut that would later be hailed as a misunderstood masterpiece.
And, of course, there was the inevitable comparison to Barbenheimer, the unexpected cinematic event of 2023 that saw Barbie and Oppenheimer dominate the box office.
“Please don’t let it flop”
one user joked.
The number 17 itself became a running gag. People joked that only 17 theaters were showing it, 17 people actually finished watching it, and the film would be streaming on 17 different platforms within a week. One person said
"Mickey 18 will be way better"
There’s also the question of whether Mickey 17 will have a miraculous comeback. Some fans argued that Bong Joon Ho’s films have a way of gaining traction over time. Others are betting that word-of-mouth could still turn things around. But for now, the internet is busy making jokes.
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Despite the slow start, it’s still early days. Some films pick up momentum weeks after release, and international numbers could still help soften the blow. But whether it becomes a sleeper hit or remains a cautionary tale of big-budget risks, one thing is certain: the internet has already declared Mickey 17 a legendary meme.
If the movie itself is half as entertaining as the jokes, maybe it’s worth a watch after all.
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