Mickey 17 is a science fiction film written and directed by Bong Joon-ho, starring Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. Adapted fromEdward Ashton's novel Mickey7, the film will be broadcast on Canal+ on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 9:10 p.m.
Following the success of Parasite, Bong Joon-ho returns with Mickey 17, a futuristic satire in which a cloned man confronts his own double. The South Korean director once again explores the themes of dehumanization, power, and class struggle in a cold and oppressive setting.
The film follows Mickey Barnes, an "expendable" tasked with carrying out suicide missions during space colonization. Regenerated after each death, he discovers one day that a new version of himself, Mickey 18, has already taken his place. From then on, an absurd struggle for identity ensues, revealing the social and moral satire at the heart of the story.
Mickey 17 tackles issues of cloning, ethics, and human value with Bong Joon-ho's trademark dark humor. Robert Pattinson delivers a contrasting performance, oscillating between absurd comedy and existential despair. The supporting cast, including Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette, embody different forms of authority and corruption, accentuating the film's political significance.
Visually, the film alternates between the confined interiors of the ship and the icy landscapes of an inhospitable planet. The minimalist special effects and sound design reinforce the feeling of isolation and repetition. The director deploys his mastery of tone, shifting from black comedy to philosophical fable.
Accessible to fans of intelligent science fiction and existential dramas, Mickey 17 questions the human condition through a plot involving clones and survival. Its satire of the world of work and systems of domination makes it a work that is as disturbing as it is lucid.
Mickey 17
Film | 2025
Broadcast on Canal+ on November 7, 2025, at 9:10 p.m.
Original title: Mickey 17
Nationality: South Korea/United States
The film follows Mickey Barnes, an expendable on a space colonization mission, whose role is to die and be regenerated to perform dangerous tasks. This endless loop of death and resurrection highlights the absurdity of his condition and the crew's desensitization to his sacrifices.
The South Korean director continues his critique of oppressive systems and class struggle, as he did with Snowpiercer and Parasite. Through Mickey, the ultimate figure of the exploited and interchangeable worker, Mickey 17 becomes a scathing satire of the modern world of work. The film poses a troubling question: if we are all replaceable, do we have any real value?
Mickey 17 is also a political satire that criticizes capitalism, dehumanization in the workplace, and authoritarian excesses. The secondary characters embody different facets of power and oppression: Mark Ruffalo, the narcissistic leader of the mission, is a grotesque political figure who clings to his authority despite his repeated failures; Toni Collette, obsessed with power and the image she projects, illustrates the hypocrisy of the elites; conversely, Naomi Ackie, Mickey's girlfriend, is a competent soldier who questions established norms, bringing a dynamic of resistance to this absurd system.
Robert Pattinson reaches the peak of his career here. He gives his all in the action scenes, embodying a Mickey who is clumsy, endearing, and desperately stubborn. His physical performance is impressive, shifting from total panic to stoic resignation with remarkable fluidity. His voiceover, punctuated with absurd humor, reinforces the film's satirical dimension. Mickey, despite his thankless role as expendable, retains a touching naivety, which makes his misfortunes as funny as they are poignant. Pattinson delivers a nuanced performance, somewhere between comedy and tragedy, proving once again his chameleon-like talent.
While Mickey 17 begins as a delirious science fiction comedy, the tone gradually evolves into a more profound reflection. As Mickey realizes that he is just a cog in the machine, the film takes a more melancholic and existential turn, questioning identity and the fear of being replaced. This shift from absurdity to existential angst is reminiscent of works such as Severance and Edge of Tomorrow.
The film's structure alternates between intense action scenes and moments of dark comedy, creating a balance between dramatic tension and biting satire. The linear progression of the narrative is punctuated by Mickey's multiple deaths and resurrections, illustrating the monotony and absurdity of his condition as an expendable worker. Confrontations with Mark Ruffalo add an extra layer of cynicism and criticism of power. In one memorable scene, he says to Dr. Arkadi: "Arkadi, stay proud in failure, like me." A punchline as absurd as it is revealing of his character's narcissistic blindness, clinging to his authority despite the surrounding chaos.
Visually, most of the film takes place in space and on a hostile planet covered in eternal snow and swept by violent storms. The crew navigates an icy, mountainous environment riddled with threatening crevasses, where survival is a constant challenge. During their explorations, they discover the existence of unknown beings lurking in the shadows. Faced with these mysterious and disturbing life forms, the crew decides to name them Creepers.
At the heart of the plot is a fascinating encounter between Mickey 17 and Mickey 18, his own successor. Left for dead after a mission, Mickey 17 is rescued by the Creepers, who turn out to be much less hostile than they appear. But upon his return to the ship, he discovers that the crew has already reprinted him, creating a new version of himself, Mickey 18. So who is the "real" Mickey? The line "Before, when I died, I came back to life, and it was me who continued my life. Now, if I die... you take my place." perfectly illustrates the existential vertigo of the film. To what extent does a copy remain oneself? Bong Joon-ho exploits this idea with biting irony, playing on identity confusion and the absurdity of a system where human life becomes an interchangeable commodity.
Mickey 17 will appeal above all to fans of satirical science fiction and intelligent stories that combine dark humor and existential reflection. If you enjoyed works such as Severance, Edge of Tomorrow, or Starship Troopers, this film is for you. Bong Joon-ho has mastered the art of denouncing the absurdities of the modern world through powerful sci-fi concepts, and here he delivers a film that is as funny as it is biting.
On the other hand, those looking for a pure action movie or a linear, classic plot may be disappointed. Mickey 17 takes its time exploring its protagonist's dilemmas and offers a sometimes absurd humor that may not be to everyone's taste. Similarly, if you don't enjoy films that play on identity ambiguity and social satire, you may find the experience frustrating.
But for those who love films that make you laugh as much as they make you think, Mickey 17 is a unique experience not to be missed!
With Mickey 17, Bong Joon-ho has created a work that is as funny as it is dizzying, where science fiction becomes a pretext for exploring the flaws of our society. Part satirical comedy, part psychological thriller, and part existential fable, the film stands out thanks to Robert Pattinson at his best, an intelligent script, and direction as chilling as its setting.
Between satire and metaphysical reflection, Mickey 17 stands out as a modern fable about the value of life and the absurdity of progress without conscience.
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