Mickey 17 Review – Bong Joon-ho’s Dark Sci-Fi

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Introduction

When Bong Joon-ho releases a new film, expectations are always sky-high. After the global success of Parasite, his next project immediately became one of the most anticipated sci-fi films in years.

That film is Mickey 17 — a strange, funny, and unsettling story about a man whose job is literally to die for a living.

Starring Robert Pattinson, the film mixes science fiction, dark comedy, and social satire in a way that only Bong Joon-ho really can. Beneath the futuristic premise lies a story about class, exploitation, and what it means to be disposable in a system that values productivity over humanity.

And yes — the premise is exactly as bizarre as it sounds.

Plot Overview

The story takes place in a future where humanity has begun colonizing distant planets.

Enter Mickey Barnes, a down-on-his-luck guy who signs up for a job on a space colony mission. Unfortunately, he didn’t read the fine print.

His role is something called an “Expendable.”

That means when a mission is too dangerous, too deadly, or too experimental, Mickey is the one sent in.

Radiation exposure? Mickey goes.
Unknown alien virus? Mickey goes.
Suicidal exploration mission? Mickey definitely goes.

When Mickey dies, the crew simply prints a new body and uploads his stored memories.

Problem solved.

By the time the movie begins, Mickey has already died sixteen times.

The version we follow is Mickey number seventeen.

When Things Go Wrong

The system works smoothly until something goes very wrong.

During a dangerous mission, Mickey 17 is believed to be dead. Following protocol, the colony prints the next version — Mickey 18.

But there is just one problem.

Mickey 17 isn’t dead.

Now two versions of the same person exist at the same time — something strictly forbidden in this society.

And suddenly, the story shifts from survival to identity.

Which Mickey is the “real” one?

And more importantly… which one deserves to live?

Classic Bong Joon-ho Themes

Like most of Bong’s films, Mickey 17 looks like entertainment on the surface but hides deeper social commentary underneath.

Disposable Workers

Mickey is literally treated like a replaceable tool. If he dies, the system simply prints another version.

It’s a dark metaphor for how modern systems often treat workers as expendable resources rather than individuals.

Class and Power

Even in the future, society still looks strangely familiar.

Powerful elites run the colony, while ordinary people take the risks and make the sacrifices. The technology may be futuristic, but the social hierarchy feels very old.

Identity and Humanity

The presence of multiple Mickeys raises fascinating philosophical questions.

If your memories can be copied and printed into another body, what makes you you?

Is identity just memory?
Or something deeper?

Robert Pattinson’s Performance

One of the film’s biggest strengths is the performance from Robert Pattinson.

Playing multiple versions of the same character might sound gimmicky, but Pattinson subtly differentiates each version of Mickey. Small shifts in behavior, tone, and confidence make the characters feel distinct while still recognizably the same person.

It’s both funny and slightly tragic watching a character slowly realize he is technically replaceable.

Visual Style and Worldbuilding

Bong Joon-ho blends large-scale science fiction spectacle with intimate character moments.

The colony environment feels harsh and industrial rather than shiny and futuristic. Instead of a utopian vision of space travel, the film presents colonization as something messy, bureaucratic, and often morally questionable.

It’s science fiction with dirt under its fingernails.