This post contains spoilers for the movie Mickey 17

If you could escape all your past mistakes and reinvent yourself, would you? What if you had no choice but to begin again— over and over? This is the existential dilemma that is explored in Bong Joon Ho’s newest film, Mickey 17 (2025). Bong is best known for his genre-bending storytelling from the psychological thriller of Mother (2009) to the dystopian thrills of Snowpiercer (2013) and Oscar-winning Parasite (2019). While he often blends horror, action, and dark-humor, his sci-fi heavy films like Okja (2017), The Host (2006), and now Mickey 17- stand out for their unique tone and eccentric characters, who despite their surreal circumstances, reveal something deeply human.

The Importance Sci-Fi

I’ve always been drawn to sci-fi because of it’s ability to stretch the limits of imagination. It lets audiences explore worlds beyond their wildest dreams while simultaneously shining a light on the darker crevices of reality.

In Mickey 17 we see escapism as a central theme— not only within the characters but for society as a whole. While Mickey (Robert Pattinson) and his crew mates are running from their personal struggles, humanity itself is attempting to flee what seems to be a collapsing Earth. Given the state of the world currently, the high-stakes premise of the film feels eerily relevant.

This is what makes sci-fi such an exciting and crucial genre. It’s a vessel for us to confront society’s issues and our personal problems through an imaginative lens. In Mickey 17 Bong Joon Ho also does this with his signature blend of whimsy and dark humor. It’s another reminder that no matter how far we go, we can’t outrun ourselves.

Mickey Barnes as a Symbol of Escapism

The Film opens with Mickey narrating his life to us. We quickly learn that many bad decisions has led him to the decision of signing up to become, what they call an “Expendable”. His world was crumbling, and in his desperation to escape, he signed up for a job that seemed like a way out—only to find himself trapped in an endless cycle of death and rebirth.

On the surface, Mickey’s role is framed as a noble sacrifice, his body is used in experiments that are aiding in the supposed salvation of humanity on a new planet. As the story unfolds, however, it becomes clear that the very corruption he and the others tried to leave on Earth has followed them into space. Nowhere is this more evident then in Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo) and his team, who mask their dark intentions behind a revolutionary and awe-inspiring mission. Much of which is scripted and posed.

Despite being a social pariah, Mickey is ultimately the key to dismantling this oppressive mission that threatens their fresh start. Despite having lived—and died— 17 times, Mickey remains a fragmented version of himself—lost. With each reprint he retains his memories, but is also a different version of himself. Much like how we continuously break down and rebuild our lives. Sometimes, even using a “fresh start” as an excuse to run away from the difficulties of our lives. It poises the question: Are we all just walking around as fragments of ourselves?

His turning point is when his usual routine is thrown off after he escapes imminent death, only to be faced with it again upon discovering Mickey 18, revealing he is a “multiple”. If discovered, both iterations of Mickey will be terminated. For the first time, he truly confronts his own mortality—not as an abstract concept, but as an unavoidable reality.

It’s seeing the contrast in Mickey 17 and 18 that we uncover that there is more to Mickey than just this timid passive person. It’s being confronted with all this tension that forces Mickey to stop running and accept who he is. In this turning point we see that Mickey understands that you can’t run from problems, which inspires the rest of the crew to stop outrunning or ignoring the corruption, but instead, fight it. Only then do they begin to grasp what real freedom means—not just survival, but the ability to shape their own future.

The Heart of Mickey’s Journey

Mickey’s courage to face death— and, more importantly, reinvention— is what makes the revolution feel truly satisfying. Throughout the story, he undergoes multiple iterations of himself, molded by outer expectations. But his final act isn’t about becoming someone new, instead, it’s about claiming who he’s been all along. Not Mickey, 1, 2, 8, or 17. Just Mickey Barnes.

Just like Mickey, in many ways, we go through our own rebirths. This could be a new job, ending a relationship, or experiencing renewed energy of moving into a new city. These moments force us to evolve and step into new versions of ourselves. While change can be transformative, it also can stem from the belief that we have to reinvent ourselves and leave parts of ourselves behind. But, what if, like Mickey, any version deserves to be nurtured?

Mickey 17 may seem like the runt of the bunch. but he also carries every version before him and all the optimism of who he will continue to become. He takes all these pieces of himself; the failures, the losses, reinventions, and picks them back up, deciding to not start over but move forward. Fully, as he is .

What Does Mickey 17 Say About Us?

Beneath it’s thrilling, mind bending, storytelling, Mickey 17 is a tale of what it is to be human. It keeps us engaged with its dark wit, striking visuals, and inventive premise, but it’s soul lies in the question if humanity is worth saving. The conclusion of the film suggests that it is— so much so that we’d leave Earth entirely to secure our survival. (Whether or not that is moral is another discussion entirely.)

On a personal level, Mickey 17 challenges the way we think about change. Through these characters, we’re reminded that life isn’t just about escaping or endlessly reinventing ourselves, but learning to live with who we are. This means embracing our flaws, and past selves in a way that propels us forward, rather than leaving us stuck in a cycle of starting over.

What did you think about Mickey 17 and did you have a favorite Mickey?

Song Recommendation: Stellar by Incubus

Love you, Thank you.

-Rae