Mickey 17 should not be expected to follow in Parasite’s footsteps as a major Oscars contender, no matter how good Bong Joon Ho’s latest film is.

While Mickey 17 is adapted from Edward Ashton’s 2022 novel Mickey7, Ashton’s version is a much more straightforward sci-fi story than Bong’s. In the Korean virtuoso’s hands, this story plays out like an extension of nearly every theme and visual approach he’s used throughout his lengthy career.

As a consumable (expendable) used in dangerous tasks, 'Mickey,' who is printed again upon death, faces his 17th death crisis, during which 'Mickey 18' is printed, leading to unpredictable events in the movie 'Mickey 17,' which has been met with enthusiastic reactions from the audience.