Los Angeles, California — Bong Joon Ho’s latest film, Mickey 17, don dey struggle for box office, raising plenty questions on whether e don fall victim to the Oscars curse after him big win with Parasite.
The South Korean director’s science fiction dark comedy, wey get Robert Pattinson as the lead, been made for USD 118 million without marketing cost. As e stand now, the film don only manage to make around USD 110.7 million globally, even with strong reviews and plenty love from audience.
This poor performance dey follow a pattern wey don show for many films wey directors don win Oscar. Over recent years, na so many Best Director winners take struggle with their next films. For instance, Ang Lee follow him big win for Life of Pi with Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk wey flop. Meanwhile, Damien Chazelle, wey be the youngest Best Director winner, see him ambitious movie First Man fall flat. Guillermo Del Toro and Chloé Zhao also experience the same as their movies no perform as expected.
Film historian Thomas Doherty talk say this trend fit happen because people wey dey work with directors get too much trust in their judgment, leading to less pushback on creative decisions. “When dem no dey challenge directors, dem fit take bigger creative risks wey sometimes no dey pay off,” he explain.
Nevertheless, no all filmmakers dey fall for this so-called curse. Alejandro G. Iñárritu managed to win back-to-back Oscars and still deliver box office hits, while Alfonso Cuarón follow him success with Gravity with another hit, Roma. Dis fit just be one bad luck situation for Bong Joon Ho.
Mickey 17 dey set to cost Warner Bros. about USD 70 to USD 80 million in losses, a heavy blow for the studio. The film also features talented actors like Mark Ruffalo, Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, and Toni Collette.
As fans dey wonder about the film, we go like hear your thoughts. You don watch Mickey 17? Wetin you think?
