2 hours ago
6
Published Aug 25, 2026, 11:33 AM EDT
Audiences can't get enough of Pattinson being an odd little dude
Image: Warner/Everett CollectionSign in to your Polygon.com account
The internet can’t get enough of Robert Pattinson being a freaky little guy. Even considering The Odyssey’s significant star power, Pattinson’s performance as the despicable worm Antinous was a major standout, so much so that one of his lines from the film (“Somebody get these BEGGARS out of here!”) has gone viral. Shortly after, another Pattinson line caught on, this time from his portrayal of Chris Hansen in A24’s upcoming thriller Primetime. It’s already been a big year for Pattinson, with more on the way like his upcoming role as Scytale in Dune: Part 3 and his reprisal of The Dark Knight in 2028’s The Batman: Part II.
Likely due to Pattinson’s ascendant star power, one of his movies from last year is surging on Netflix. Although it failed to earn back its budget at the box office, Mickey 17 has landed on Netflix’s streaming charts. According to Flix Patrol, it took the #10 spot worldwide. If you’re a fan of Pattinson playing an odd dude, this one’s for you.
What is Mickey 17?
Mickey 17 is the latest film from South Korean auteur Bong Joon Ho, who upended decades of precedent in 2019 when Parasite became the first non-English language movie to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. He’s also directed other recent classics like Memories of Murder and Snowpiercer. Mickey 17 was released in theaters on March 7, 2025, and is based on the sci-fi novel Mickey 7.
The movie follows Mickey Barnes (played by Pattinson), a squeaky-voiced man so desperate to escape a homicidal loan shark that he signs up for a space colonization mission as an Expendable, a disposable worker who is cloned every time he dies. After numerous untimely ends, the colonists finally reach their destination, as Mickey finds himself at the forefront of a clash with the new planet’s native life forms.
While it doesn’t quite reach the highs of Parasite, Mickey 17 is a blunt but convincing sci-fi satire that takes aim at demagogues and colonizers alike. Pattinson’s performance is the glue that holds the film together, equal parts goofy and earnest. Considering that Mickey 17 didn’t set the box office on fire, it’s great to see it finding a second life on Netflix.
English (US) ·