Oscar Winner Takes the Heat for Divisive Robert Pattinson Film — Blame Me If You Didn’t Like It

written by Craig Ellison

May 16, 2026 10:31 am

Oscar Winner Takes the Heat for Divisive Robert Pattinson Film — Blame Me If You Didn’t Like It — Image credit: Legion-Media

Bong Joon Ho tells skeptics to blame him for Mickey 17; the Oscar winner says he kept final cut on the divisive Robert Pattinson sci‑fi.

Let’s talk about 'Mickey 17,' the Robert Pattinson sci-fi star vehicle that was supposed to keep Bong Joon Ho’s hot streak rolling. It didn’t quite go to plan. Instead, we got one of those classic cases—a big-budget movie from a beloved director that critics liked well enough, but audiences mostly shrugged at, and the studio accountants definitely grumbled over. Now, a year later, Bong himself is ready to take all the heat, no excuses.

Bong Joon Ho’s ‘My Fault, My Film’ Moment

So, here’s the story: At a recent film junket (he’s out there promoting his next project), South Korean director Bong Joon Ho got blunt about what went down with 'Mickey 17.' If you didn’t love it—or even hated it—he says, blame him. He had complete creative control, and yes, that was in his contract.

'Director’s final cut was part of my contract and everyone at the studio and my agency tried their best to protect me. Of course during post, there were a lot of discussions and opinions, but it wasn’t like anyone forced anything on me or pressured me. All my movies have been released as my director’s final cut, even something as big as "Mickey 17." All the good stuff and all the bad—100% on me. So s— on me if you didn’t like it!'

There you go. Not every director gets to say that, especially with a studio as big as Warner Bros., so credit where it’s due.

What Happened (and What Didn’t)

Some context for just how high the stakes were: 'Mickey 17' cost over $100 million to make. After all the pieces (marketing, distribution, etc.) slid into place, the film managed to bring in a worldwide gross of around $133 million. Not as impressive once you factor in the full spend—allegedly, Warner Bros. ended up over $100 million in the hole, making this a world-class expensive lesson.

Here’s a weird wrinkle: Apparently, an earlier cut of 'Mickey 17' did better with test audiences than Bong’s final version. Still, thanks to his contract, his cut is what hit theaters. For better or worse, it’s all his vision.

What’s Next for Bong

Despite the 'Mickey 17' stumble (well, financial splat), Bong’s not slowing down. His next movie is going animated, and it sounds like a tonal 180: it’s called 'Ally,' and it’s about a “curious and endearing” piglet squid making its way to the surface after a plane sinks. (Probably fewer existential quandaries and far less Robert Pattinson this time.)

Bong co-wrote the script with Jason Yu
Bradley Cooper and Dave Bautista will voice characters (yeah, both from 'Guardians of the Galaxy'—that’s a weird, fun flex)
'Ally' is set for a 2027 release

For anyone who still wants to check out 'Mickey 17', it’s streaming on HBO Max. And if you end up not a fan, well, Bong’s already told you exactly where to aim your complaints.