Propelled by a riveting performance by Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody made its debut in theaters over the November 2-4, 2018 weekend. The musical biopic about Queen and its iconic lead singer Freddie Mercury took over the top spot on the box office chart, posting a $50 million opening weekend.
The PG-13 rated drama had to overcome pre-release negative publicity following the firing of its director, Bryan Singer, prior to the end of filming. (Dexter Fletcher finished up the shoot.) Critics were split over the movie, although even those who gave the film negative reviews approved of Malek’s take on Freddie Mercury. Audiences, however, greeted the film much more enthusiastically. According to Cinemascore, a sampling of ticket buyers awarded Bohemian Rhapsody an A average. The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score currently sits at 60% fresh.
The first weekend in November also saw The Nutcracker and the Four Realms and Nobody’s Fool open in theaters. Finishing in second and third place, respectively, Nutcracker and Nobody’s Fool had a hard time winning over critics but scored well with ticket buyers surveyed. Nobody’s Fool nearly made back its budget over its first three days in theaters, but Disney will have a more difficult time recovering its $130+ million budget and marketing costs for The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.
As with Bohemian Rhapsody, two directors also worked on bringing The Nutcracker and the Four Realms to the screen. However, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms’ behind-the-scenes switch had to do with reshoots and the original director, Lasse Hallström, being unable to return due to scheduling conflicts. Joe Johnston handled the reshoots, and both Hallström and Johnston are credited as co-directors. Only Bryan Singer is credited with Bohemian Rhapsody.
Box Office Top 10: November 2-4, 2018
- Bohemian Rhapsody – $50,000,000
- The Nutcracker and the Four Realms – $20,000,000
- Nobody’s Fool – $14,000,000
- A Star is Born – $11,100,000
- Halloween – $11,015,000
- Venom – $7,850,000
- Smallfoot – $3,805,000
- Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween – $3,700,000
- Hunter Killer – $3,525,000
- The Hate U Give – $3,400,000
The Bohemian Rhapsody Plot:
“Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career.
Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.”
