Background
Jung Jae-il was announced as the film's composer, by Warner Bros., having previously composed Joon-ho's Okja (2017) and Parasite (2019). [1] Jae-il considered Mickey 17 as the closest to his personal music taste among other film scores he composed, describing it as "classical and intimate". [2] The score was under production for three years and was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios, London, Teldex Studio, Berlin and the Rottenbiller Studio, Budapest. [3] It was released through WaterTower Music on February 28, 2025, a week prior to the film's release. [4] [5] A vinyl edition of the album is set to be published on May 2025. [6] [7]
Critical reception
Jonathan Broxton of Movie Music UK wrote "Jae-Il Jung’s score is full of idiosyncratic choices that an established Hollywood composer would likely never make, and the fact that director Joon-Ho Bong encouraged this approach is commendable; [...] this is what makes Mickey 17 the success that it is. The surprising instrumental palette, the unexpected tonal shifts, and the general quirkiness of its overall sound, combines with some genuinely beautiful romantic writing and some excellent action material, resulting in a score which – like the film that it accompanies – swings for the fences, and is perhaps a little overly-ambitious, but nevertheless works in spite of itself." [8] Filmtracks wrote "the 49-minute album drags considerably but is never unpleasant, making for an easy but forgettable listening experience outside of the terrible and sickening religious source song for the villains in "Rejoice in the Lord" at the presentation's end. Like the film itself, there was too much potential for a really fantastic parody here that was left unexplored, despite the impressive action at the climax." [9]
Anton Smit of Soundtrack World called it as a "terrific score" and praised Jae-il's ability to translate the "dark comedic elements into the score very well". [10] Ben of Soundtrack Universe wrote "With its largely tonal soundscape and heavy influence from various Classical pieces, Mickey 17 is a rather wonderful score that showcases both Jung's talents at the keyboard as well as his musical wit. While those wishing to hear Jung's more contemporary or atmospheric writing from Squid Games might be disappointed, that shouldn't stop one from exploring this decadently subversive Neo-Classical score of surprising beauty." [11]
Joshua Abraham of The Battalion wrote "The film’s score also deserves a shout-out. Jung Jae-il, who composed “Parasite,” “Okja” and “Squid Games,” has such a recognizable tone in his composition that works effectively across these productions. The quiet parts are soft and contemplative, but the extravagant sequences are loud and chaotic, working in tandem with the themes that Bong wants to emphasize." [12] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter and Jacob Aller of The A.V. Club called it "parodic", [13] [14] while Tim Grierson of Screen International called it a "quirky score". [15]
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