Bohemian Rhapsody Tops US Box Office on Opening Weekend

The long-awaited Freddy Mercury biopic rocked the box office this weekend racking up $50 million in North America and $141.7 million around the world. This surpassed the projected amount, which was around $35 million in the US.

Egyptian actor Rami Malek stars in Bohemian Rhapsody has been receiving rave reviews for his portrayal of Mercury. The performance allegedly so outstanding that some speculate it making him a best-actor contender for Oscar season.

“The bigger than expected debut for Bohemian Rhapsody proved that the choice to see the film was an emotional one no matter what the critics had to say,” said comScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian. “It was the true fans who connect to the music of Queen and in particular Freddie Mercury that made this a hit.”

The film has received mixed reviews from critics, with its score being 60 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Most of the critical reviews have been directed towards the film’s portrayal of Mercury’s life and sexuality.

“People talk about awards and things, but I’m good,” Malek comments on the Oscar buzz. “The fact that after all these years [making the movie], Brian may and Roger Taylor are my friends, and now, while I’m in London, I’m going to be having tea and dinner with Kash… get out of town. Who wants more than that?”

Main Image: Herald Sun