6 Movies To Watch Before Mickey 17

Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming movie Mickey 17 is a darkly comedic adaptation of Ashton Edward’s novel “Mickey7”, which follows the titular character as he signs up for a dangerous program that sees him killed over and over again in the name of scientific progress. The story takes place on the deadly ice planet of Niflheim, where Mickey’s role is to undertake the missions deemed too dangerous for the other soldiers, as he can be cloned and reprinted over and over again. Mickey 17 opened to strong reviews, marking a well-timed comeback for director Bong Joon-ho.

Through its comedic storytelling and pointed character work, Mickey 17 offers some powerful commentary on today’s volatile political climate and the way capitalist greed often exploits the working class. It’s just as fierce and socially charged as the rest of Bong Joon-ho’s projects, but this feels much looser and more free-flowing in its exploration of the themes. It touches on countless ideas that have already been explored in Bong’s filmography, but through a much funnier lens that’s easier to digest. Mickey 17 is one of 2025’s most anticipated movies, and it certainly won’t disappoint.

6 Okja (2017)

Directed By Bong Joon-ho

Out of Bong Joon-ho’s entire filmography, Okja feels like the most relevant and similar project to his work on Mickey 17. The movie centers around a young girl named Mija who develops a strong friendship with a genetically mutated “superpig” named Okja, who is captured by a dangerous company looking to slaughter her for meat. It features much of the same commentary about animal rights, corporate greed, and interpersonal relationships while maintaining a sharp sense of humor throughout.

5 Parasite (2019)

Directed By Bong Joon-ho

Very few directors can make a film in the same style as Bong Joon-ho, which is why Mickey 17 feels so comfortingly familiar compared with the rest of his work. Parasite is the director’s most acclaimed film to date, following a working-class family in South Korea who look after a wealthy family’s home and discover dark secrets hidden within. The film won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director, but it’s yet to be seen whether Mickey 17 will have the same awards success.

4 High Life (2018)

Directed By Claire Denis

Robert Pattinson’s lead performance(s) in Mickey 17 is arguably the film’s strongest asset, but it shouldn’t be surprising given the versatility that he’s displayed previously. High Life is a perfect example of this; while the film received mixed reviews from critics and general audiences alike, it marked a huge turning point in Pattinson’s career that cemented him among the most adaptable actors of his generation. The story follows an astronaut who’s forced to look after his daughter when the crew’s mission goes fatally wrong.

3 Moon (2009)

Directed By Duncan Jones

Moon feels like an obvious film to compare with Mickey 17 because of their narrative similarities, but they also have many differences. The plot twist in Moon’s ending is that protagonist Sam is actually a clone of the real Sam, who remains on Earth while his double is left stranded in a research station on the moon. The film offers some intricate commentary on what it means to be a person and have an identity, and where clones fit into this philosophy. While Mickey 17 doesn’t go into much detail on these ideas, it’s a thematic thread that connects them.

2 Dual (2022)

Directed By Riley Stearns

Dual is another movie that wasn’t overwhelmingly praised by critics, but many of its key themes and narrative ideas are still being explored several years later. The film centers around a terminally ill woman named Sarah, who creates a clone of herself to help her family come to terms with her death. But when she overcomes her sickness, the two Sarahs are forced to duel for the right to exist. It’s a fascinating movie that features an excellent dual performance from Karen Gillan - and Mickey 17 touches on many of the same ideas through its two versions of Pattinson’s protagonist.

1 District 9 (2009)

Directed By Neill Blomkamp

District 9 is a post-apocalyptic comedy that follows a government agent who’s responsible for relocating an alien species to the slums of South Africa, whose professional conduct quickly causes problems for interspecies relations. While Mickey 17’s story deals with very different ideas, their comedic approach to these gritty concepts is very similar. They both use slapstick comedy and wacky performances to suck audiences into these stories which, at their core, are extremely dark. Despite Mickey 17’s many delays, the film is a perfect follow-up for anybody who enjoyed District 9’s distinct style and tone.

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