Robert Pattinson Stars in "Mickey 17" at Berlin Film Festival, Receives Enthusiastic Reception

The Berlin Film Festival welcomed a double dose of Robert Pattinson with the Saturday night premiere of Bong Joon Ho's "Mickey 17." The actor, who portrays an explorer and his clone in this sci-fi adventure, elicited thunderous applause at the conclusion of the film.

"Mickey 17" garnered one of the most exuberant receptions at the festival thus far. The audience at the Berlinale Palast Theater erupted into a standing ovation that would have continued indefinitely had it not been for an interruption. Berlin's new chief, Tricia Tuttle, paused the applause to invite Bong onstage for a brief Q&A session.

"The concept of human printing fascinated me," Bong shared with the audience, expressing his gratitude for their dedication throughout the 137-minute film. Set in a dystopian universe, "Mickey 17," set for release on March 7 by Warner Bros., follows an aimless Mickey who flees Earth on a spaceship. His agreement to become "an expandable" involves sacrificing his body for the mission. Mickey embarks on perilous tasks that result in his repeated deaths, only to be resurrected through clones of himself, his memories intact thanks to an advanced printing machine.

"It was thrilling to imagine creating multiple Robert Pattinsons," Bong remarked. "He's so effortlessly printable!"

Pattinson, exuding a Batman-like allure in an all-black ensemble including a leather coat, arrived early at the premiere. He generously signed autographs and posed for selfies with fans as he made his way to the theater. "Rob! Rob! Rob!" the crowd outside chanted, showering him with the A-list welcome he experienced at the height of his "Twilight" fame.

In "Mickey 17," Pattinson's magnetic presence is fully exploited. After one of the Mickeys survives a fall by sheer luck, he returns to the spacecraft to encounter his latest clone – leading to a clash over his girlfriend (Naomi Ackie). The ensuing love triangle involving the three Mickeys rivals even the steamy encounter in "Challengers."

The cast in attendance included Steven Yeun and Toni Collette. Tilda Swinton, who memorably portrayed a tyrant in 2013's "Snowpiercer," attended the screening after receiving an honorary Golden Bear for her cinematic achievements on Thursday evening. As the film commenced, Pattinson and Bong exchanged a heartfelt gesture with the audience, forming a complete heart shape with their hands.

"Mickey 17" marks Bong's first film since 2019's "Parasite," which garnered a five-minute standing ovation at its Cannes premiere and ultimately triumphed at the Oscars with the Best Picture award. Bong's cinematic oeuvre, spanning from 2006's "The Host" to 2017's "Okja," frequently explores themes of identity, societal dynamics, and class conflict. "Mickey 17" delves further into these themes, introducing a Trump-esque politician played by Mark Ruffalo.

With a production budget of $118 million, the film is projected to debut with an opening weekend gross of just under $20 million in the United States. Positive word-of-mouth and favorable reviews from Berlin may potentially enhance its box office performance. Nonetheless, a note to the festival organizers: consider extending the applause time for the enthusiastic audience in the future.