Mickey 17
During a human expedition to colonize space, Mickey 17, a so-called "expendable" employee, is sent to explore an ice planet.
Working with a substantial budget of $118.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $131.8M in global revenue (+12% profit margin).
1 win & 9 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Mickey 17 (2025) exemplifies strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Bong Joon Ho's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 17 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Mickey Barnes
Nasha
Ken
Hieronymous Marshall
Adjutant
Berto
Main Cast & Characters
Mickey Barnes
Played by Robert Pattinson
An expendable employee who dies repeatedly and is cloned for dangerous missions on an ice planet colony.
Nasha
Played by Naomi Ackie
A fellow colonist and Mickey's love interest who becomes entangled in his existential crisis.
Ken
Played by Mark Ruffalo
The mission commander who oversees the colony and manages the expendable program.
Hieronymous Marshall
Played by Toni Collette
The colony's leader who maintains order and makes difficult decisions about resource allocation.
Adjutant
Played by Steven Yeun
A security officer who enforces colony regulations and investigates anomalies.
Berto
Played by Patsy Ferran
Mickey's friend and fellow colonist who provides support and perspective.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Mickey Barnes lives as an expendable on the ice colony Niflheim, a disposable worker who dies and regenerates repeatedly for humanity's survival.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 17 minutes when Mickey 17 dies in a crevasse accident but unexpectedly survives, returning to find Mickey 18 has already been printed as his replacement.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Both Mickeys actively choose to work together to survive, deciding to share one life between them rather than let one be terminated., moving from reaction to action.
At 69 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The colony leadership discovers the duplicate Mickeys, raising the stakes as they face termination while simultaneously learning the creepers are intelligent beings., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 103 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, One Mickey is captured and scheduled for execution, while open warfare begins with the creepers, threatening to destroy both species and everything Mickey values., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 110 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Mickey realizes that consciousness and lived experience create identity, not genetic continuity, and chooses to sacrifice himself to broker peace with the creepers., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Mickey 17's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Mickey 17 against these established plot points, we can identify how Bong Joon Ho utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Mickey 17 within the adventure genre.
Bong Joon Ho's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Bong Joon Ho films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Mickey 17 takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Bong Joon Ho filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include The Black Stallion, The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots. For more Bong Joon Ho analyses, see The Host, Snowpiercer and Okja.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Mickey Barnes lives as an expendable on the ice colony Niflheim, a disposable worker who dies and regenerates repeatedly for humanity's survival.
Theme
A mission commander explains that survival requires sacrifice, foreshadowing the core question: what makes a life valuable when it can be endlessly replicated?
Worldbuilding
The harsh ice world colony, the expendable program, Mickey's relationship with Nasha, and the hostile alien ecosystem called creepers are established.
Disruption
Mickey 17 dies in a crevasse accident but unexpectedly survives, returning to find Mickey 18 has already been printed as his replacement.
Resistance
Mickey 17 must hide from authorities while Mickey 18 adapts to life. The two Mickeys debate their situation and learn the colony's dark secrets about the expendable program.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Both Mickeys actively choose to work together to survive, deciding to share one life between them rather than let one be terminated.
Mirror World
Nasha becomes the emotional anchor representing genuine human connection, contrasting the expendable system that treats Mickey as replaceable.
Premise
The two Mickeys navigate their double life, discovering the colony leadership's exploitation and the truth about the creepers while trying to maintain their secret.
Midpoint
The colony leadership discovers the duplicate Mickeys, raising the stakes as they face termination while simultaneously learning the creepers are intelligent beings.
Opposition
The Mickeys are hunted while trying to prevent war between colonists and creepers. Colonial authorities tighten control as resources dwindle and violence escalates.
Collapse
One Mickey is captured and scheduled for execution, while open warfare begins with the creepers, threatening to destroy both species and everything Mickey values.
Crisis
Mickey confronts his expendability and questions whether individual identity matters when he can be endlessly replicated, facing his deepest fear of meaninglessness.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Mickey realizes that consciousness and lived experience create identity, not genetic continuity, and chooses to sacrifice himself to broker peace with the creepers.
Synthesis
Mickey negotiates peace between humans and creepers, exposing the corrupt colonial leadership and establishing a new coexistence framework that values all conscious life.
Transformation
Mickey, having proven his individuality matters through his choices rather than his uniqueness, lives authentically with Nasha in a transformed colony that respects all life.