Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17, was easily one of the most anticipated movie of 2025. However, the mind-bending sci-fi classic Moon (2009) may come in as a perfect cosmic double-feature. Directed by Duncan Jones, this thought-provoking film pays homage to the likes of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien. The story is centered on Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), a factory worker living solo on the moon until he stumbles upon someone who looks exactly like him — wild, right?
While fans have speculated that Mickey 17 is a Moon rip-off, that’s far from the truth. The two movies only share the same sci-fi concept but have distinct styles and tones. What stands out about Moon is Rockwell’s spectacular performance, coupled with its philosophical undertones, which offer a peek at the depth one might expect from Mickey 17.
‘Moon’ Absolutely Deserves Your Attention
Image Credit: Sony Pictures Classics
Duncan Jones’ 2009 sci-fi gem Moon, which currently has 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, takes viewers on a wild psychological ride, to say the very least. At the forefront of it all is Sam Rockwell stars as Sam Bell who is living solo on the moon, working a three-year gig at a lunar mining facility. Things get weird when he stumbles across someone who looks exactly like him. Plot twist: it turns out he’s a clone, created by the shady company he works for. Their deal? They send these clones on risky missions, and when one dies, they fire up a new Sam, complete with the old memories — while quietly tossing the previous body aside. It’s a mind-bending story that blends heartbreak with corporate dystopia, keeping you hooked the whole way through.
Moon is one of those sci-fi movies that keeps it simple but still manages to hit hard. It explores the human condition through Sam Bell’s lonesome story, with his only company being Gerty, a robot voiced by Kevin Spacey in the calmest, creepiest way possible. Rockwell’s interpretation of the role really taps into his isolation and loneliness, as such, it’s impossible not to root for him. Empire magazine even called it one of the best performances of the year and listed it in their “10 Egregious Oscar Snubs.” Another stamp of approval came from the fans who deem it fit to be a worthwhile one-man show.
Is ‘Mickey 17’ a Rip-off of ‘Moon?’
Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
While Mickey 17 is certainly not a rip-off of Moon, it may have been a creative influence since it is well known that the director, Bong Joon-ho, revealed he tries to watch a movie a day. So, it’s not out of the question that Moon happened to be on his watch list. Besides that, the similarities between the two sci-fi gems are hard to phase out. Both films shed light on the plight of disposable workers (clones) who are often left to shoulder the weight of thankless-dangerous jobs.
Moon focuses on Rockwell’s character as he deals with loneliness and identity crisis after he confronts his clone. In Mickey 17, the lead actor, Mickey (Robert Pattinson) also deals with these emotions. Even more, Moon explores how corporations treat their employees as disposable in the same manner that Mickey 17 does. However, it’s worth noting that most of Bong Joon-ho’s movies tend to have recurring themes like social inequality. All in all, Mickey 17 has a whole different style and tone and its budget of $150 million budget beats Moon’s $5 million budget making it unreasonable to pit the two films against each other.
‘Mickey 17’ Is Based on Edward Ashton’s Critically Acclaimed Novel, ‘Mickey7’
Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 is based on Edward Ashton’s 2022 book Mickey7 and it focuses on a disposable employee or an Expendable named Mickey. He goes on missions that are deemed too dangerous for humans, but it’s supposed to be alright since Mickey regenerates a whole new body with most of his memories intact. Jumping right in, it’s worth noting that the film takes a few liberties with the content from the book.
Perhaps one of the biggest differences is the number of Mickeys — the book states that there are eight while the movie presents us with a whopping 18. The novel has it that, Mickey7 is presumed dead after a failed mission, leading to the creation of an eighth version. But when it turns out that Mickey7 is alive, it creates a major problem because two expendables can’t exist at the same time. If discovered, both would be eliminated, and that’s when Mickey7 has to go into hiding. It’s takes a food shortage to force him out of hiding since he believes he can help in some capacity. Unsurprisingly, there are more notable changes from the book to screen as is often the case with adaptations. However, Bong Joon Ho’s changes were well recieved, as the movie gained favorable reviews from fans and critics. Mickey 17 current sits with 77% on Rotten Tomatoes. While it didn’t hit the box office jackpot like Bong’s previous film, Parasite — which raked in $132 million on a $118 million budget — it still stands as a bold, inventive sci-fi exploration in an era where originality feels almost extinct.
For a dose of double trouble, watch Mickey 17 on Prime Video.
