Robert Pattinson's new movie Mickey 17 has landed a strong score on Rotten Tomatoes following its first reviews, with one critic calling it a "masterpiece".
Directed by Parasite's Bong Joon-ho, the sci-fi film stars Pattinson as an "expendable" known as Mickey 17, who is sent on a human expedition to colonise the ice planet of Niflheim.
Mickey 17's job is to undertake the most dangerous elements of the mission and if he dies while doing so, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories still intact.
However, things get complicated when there ends up being two copies of Mickey at the same time, and they start to clash.
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Ahead of its release in cinemas on April 18, Mickey 17 has landed an impressive score of 88% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes from 32 reviews, at the time of writing.
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In The Independent's review, the film was described as an "absurdist, anti-capitalist, Trump-mocking masterpiece."
Here's what some of the other critics have been saying:
Deadline
"For those who can identify with standing in line just to stop the world and get off, this is the movie for you, a death defying and dizzying wild ride."
The Wrap
"A teen-idol turned auteur-darling turned action-lead, Pattinson could easily call comedy his true calling, here delivering an elastic physical performance as dexterous as Jim Carrey in his prime."
Indie Wire
"I’d argue that Mickey 17, the best and most cohesive of Bong’s English-language films, offers such exciting proof of Bong’s genius precisely because it feels like such a clear amalgamation of his previous two, [Snowpiercer and Okja]."
Vulture
"By showing that even the most resigned of sci-fi doormats can decide to stand up for himself, Mickey 17 ends on a more hopeful note than the rest of Bong’s films. It’s more hopeful than we currently deserve."
Time Out
"Mickey 17 may lack some of the political bite of his previous work, but it’s unquestionably tremendous fun: a big, strange spectacle that’s unlike most blockbuster cinema out there."
Next Best Picture
"Mickey 17 feels like a true blockbuster that doesn’t merely strive for action or cheap thrills but rather understands the innate drama and social awareness that audiences genuinely care about in their cinema."
Mickey 17 releases in cinemas on April 18.
Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
