The highly anticipated original science fiction film, "Mickey 17", directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, opened to positive box office results. In its debut weekend, the film, featuring Robert Pattinson in the lead role, grossed $19.1 million, securing the first position at the North American box office.

"Mickey 17" managed to dethrone "Captain America: Brave New World", which had held the top spot for three consecutive weeks. On an international scale, "Mickey 17" has already generated an additional $34.2 million, boosting its worldwide total to $53.3 million. However, analysts warn that the film is far from profitable, having been produced at a substantial cost of $118 million, not including significant marketing expenses.

Amidst a recent Oscars ceremony where Sean Baker notably advocated for the importance of theatrical releases, the circumstances surrounding "Mickey 17" present a fascinating case for the current film industry landscape. Despite being backed by an Oscar-winning director and a talented cast, the film's performance underscored the challenges faced by original films vying for audience attention in a landscape increasingly dominated by franchise installments. While it received a mostly positive reception from critics, with a score of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, ticket sales suggest it did not achieve the status of an 'event movie.'

Originally slated for release in March 2024, the production of "Mickey 17" encountered several delays attributed to extenuating circumstances related to the recent Hollywood strikes. The film is inspired by the novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton, where Pattinson portrays an expendable worker who repeatedly dies and is resurrected for various missions. Featuring a cast that includes Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo, "Mickey 17" opened in 3,807 theaters across North America, performing particularly well in major markets such as New York and Los Angeles. Premium formats like IMAX contributed to nearly half of its opening weekend earnings, with significant success in South Korea, where it earned approximately $14.6 million.

In second place, "Captain America: Brave New World" added $8.5 million domestically from 3,480 theaters and brought in $9.2 million from international markets. Its current global total stands at $370.8 million, positioning Walt Disney Studios to become the first studio to surpass the $1 billion mark in 2025, expected to happen within the upcoming week.

The box office records for the remaining films in the top five reflect a mix of performative holdovers and new entries. "Last Breath," "The Monkey," and "Paddington in Peru" rounded out the top spots, while newcomers like "In the Lost Lands," a fantasy film featuring Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista, and Angel Studios' "Rule Breakers," which tells the story of Afghan girls on a robotics team, also entered the fray.

In a notable resurgence, Neon expanded the theater count for "Anora" to nearly 2,000 screens following its five Oscar wins, including best picture, best director, and best actress. The film saw an impressive 595% increase in earnings, collecting an estimated $1.9 million for a cumulative total of $18.4 million.

According to Comscore data, the overall box office in 2025 is showing a 1% increase compared to the previous year, though it remains down by 34.2% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore's senior media analyst, noted the fluctuating nature of box office performance and anticipated a rebound as audiences continue returning to theaters.

The weekend's estimated ticket sales for U.S. and Canadian theaters showcase the competitive landscape:

• 1. "Mickey 17," $19.1 million.
• 2. "Captain America: Brave New World," $8.5 million.
• 3. "Last Breath," $4.2 million.
• 4. "The Monkey," $3.9 million.
• 5. "Paddington in Peru," $3.9 million.
• 6. "Dog Man," $3.5 million.
• 7. "Anora," $1.9 million.
• 8. "Mufasa: The Lion King," $1.7 million.
• 9. "Rule Breakers," $1.6 million.
• 10. "In the Lost Land," $1 million.