Robert Pattinson’s Sci-Fi Action Film Finds Success on Streaming

Audiences continue to embrace Robert Pattinson and his eccentric film roles. In The Odyssey, Pattinson stood out as Antinous, spawning the viral quote “Somebody get these BEGGARS out of here!” Another line gained traction online shortly after, taken from his turn as Chris Hansen in the A24 thriller Primetime. Pattinson is also slated to appear as Scytale in Dune: Part 3 and will reprise the lead role in The Batman: Part II in 2028.

That widespread interest is now helping one of his recent theatrical projects find new life. Although Mickey 17 failed to recoup its budget during its theatrical run, the sci-fi feature has climbed Netflix charts worldwide, reaching the number ten spot according to Flix Patrol.

What is Mickey 17?

Mickey 17 is directed by South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, who previously directed acclaimed films like Memories of Murder and Snowpiercer. Bong made history when his 2019 feature Parasite became the first non-English language movie to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Adapted from the novel Mickey 7 and fitting neatly into the subgenre of doppelgänger movies, Mickey 17 debuted in theaters on March 7, 2025.

The story centers on Mickey Barnes, played by Pattinson using a high-pitched voice. Desperate to escape a murderous loan shark, Barnes joins an off-world colonization mission as an Expendable, an employee who is cloned every time he dies on the job. Following a string of gruesome deaths during the journey, Barnes reaches the destination planet, only to be thrust into a conflict with the native creatures living there.

While the film does not quite match the widespread acclaim of Parasite, the satire takes clear aim at colonization and corrupt leaders. Pattinson balances physical comedy and earnestness throughout the story, giving the production a welcome second chance on home screens.

Source: Polygon