"Mickey 17 Ending Explained | The Philosophical Questions Raised by Director Bong Joon-ho"

A Must-Watch Movie Since the First Trailer

From the moment I saw the trailer, I knew this was a movie I had to watch.

Honestly, I haven’t always been a huge fan of Bong Joon-ho’s films, but something about this one drew me in right from the trailer.

First, let’s take a look at the trailer.

https://youtu.be/MFXWhpcuIg4

 

I’m not particularly good with words, so I won’t attempt to recount the entire plot.

I also lack the expertise to critique Robert Pattinson’s phenomenal acting, so I’ll set that aside as well.

Instead, I just want to share my personal thoughts and the questions that arose while watching the film.

For reference, I often discuss my curiosities with ChatGPT, and I really wanted to share our conversation about Mickey 17.

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Why Did Mickey 18 Sacrifice Himself?

This was the biggest question I had while watching the film.

Why did Mickey 18, who had such a strong will to live and a firm sense of self-identity, choose to end his own life?

Why did he sacrifice himself for the Mickey 17 he despised so much? I just couldn’t understand it.

Below is my conversation with ChatGPT.

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Me: Why did Mickey 18 take his own life? He was a clone who was obsessed with survival and filled with rage.

 

ChatGPT:
Mickey 18’s suicide was his final attempt to resolve the incompleteness of his own existence.

At first, he believed he was completely different from Mickey 17. But over time, he realized that his existence was inseparable from Mickey 17’s. In the end, he chose to eliminate this contradiction by removing himself from the equation.

In other words, Mickey 18’s suicide was an extreme resolution to the irony of his own existence and a desperate attempt to maintain his self-conviction.

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Me: Then why did Mickey 18 feel incomplete in the first place?

 

ChatGPT:
Technically, even Mickey 17 isn’t the "real" one. He’s simply the 17th clone. But why does he perceive himself as the real one?

1. The Illusion of Memory Continuity
   Mickey 17 maintains his sense of identity because he retains the memories of previous Mickeys.
2. Mickey 18 Exists in Isolation from Those Memories
   On the other hand, Mickey 18 does not share Mickey 17’s memories. He is a newly created entity who never experienced Mickey 17’s life.

Mickey 17 claims continuity because he retains past memories.
Mickey 18, however, has no past to recall, making it difficult for him to assert the same identity.
Thus, Mickey 17 instinctively perceives Mickey 18 as a different being.

 

Conclusion: Why Does Mickey 17 Think He’s the "Real" One?

Mickey 17 insists he’s the real one not because of any physical difference but because of his psychological belief in his own identity.

• He retains the memories of previous Mickeys and perceives himself as a continuous entity.
• Mickey 18, on the other hand, has a new set of thoughts and a different sense of self, making him feel like a distinct being.
• Yet, the more Mickey 18 insists on being different from Mickey 17, the more he paradoxically defines himself in relation to Mickey 17, trapping himself in a contradiction.

Ultimately, the idea of being "real" is not absolute but a concept shaped by memory and self-perception.
Mickey 17 believes he is the real one not because he actually is, but because the structure of his existence allows him to believe so.

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Me: But Mickey 18 only lacks the memories of Mickey 17’s most recent mission. In that sense, doesn’t Mickey 17 also experience memory discontinuity? Aren’t they both just extensions of Mickey 16?

 

ChatGPT:
Mickey 17 and Mickey 18’s conflict ultimately raises the philosophical question of what it means to be "real."

• If being real is about memory continuity, then Mickey 17 seems more real since he has an unbroken stream of consciousness.
• If being real is about physical existence, then the distinction between them becomes meaningless.
• If being real is about self-perception, then Mickey 18 is just as real because he believes in his individuality.

What Did Mickey 18’s Suicide Represent?

Mickey 18 chose an extreme path because he had no way to prove his existence as an independent being.

He believed he was different from Mickey 17, yet the world only saw him as "just another clone."

So how could Mickey 18 establish his own identity?

1. By eliminating Mickey 17 and becoming the only one left.
2. By erasing himself, thereby ending the contradiction of his existence.

In the end, he chose the latter. This wasn’t just a surrender—it was his ultimate declaration of independence.
By dying, he proved he was different from Mickey 17.

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I still don’t fully understand everything, but this conversation resolved many of my questions.

For just $20 a month, it really feels like I’ve gained a great conversation partner.

Some might see this and think I’m a loner, but that’s not the case. I just hope this conversation helps anyone who shares my curiosity.