Bohemian Rhapsody on track for box office stardom with $30 million opening

October 12th 2018, 11:17am

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

The band Queen has been rocking the world for years, and soon they'll be rocking the box office with the biopic BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY. The movie centers on frontman Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) and has been voted on Fandango as one of the most anticipated movies of the Fall season, and now new estimates are predicting that excitement will translate into a big opening weekend. Per Variety, the movie is on track for a stellar $30 million opening weekend, which would make this movie a true champion of the box office.

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The estimates of a big opening reflect the excitement coming off the movie’s foot-stomping trailers, which showcase the tremendous concert scenes and a show-stopping performance from Malek. Queen is as popular now as they've ever been, with audiences familiar with their catalog that includes songs like “We Are the Champions,” “Somebody to Love,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” and, of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Should the movie open near these estimates, or at least above $26 million, the movie will have the second-largest music biopic opening, coming in below only STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON’s $60 million.

RHAPSODY arrives on November 2 and comes out after a slow final week of October and up against THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS and NOBODY’S FOOL with Tiffany Haddish. The movie should have no trouble leaping over those flicks, with NUTCRACKER poised to come in second with anywhere between $23-26 million. Plus, with A STAR IS BORN also doing very well audiences may be craving even more musical dramas, giving RHAPSODY an even bigger boost (Note: A STAR IS BORN was also estimated to open in the $30 million range, all before exceeding expectations with $40+ million).

The early reactions to the movie have so far been mixed, but that likely won’t dull anticipation for the movie. There is such a strong fanbase and recognizability with the music that audiences will be eager to check it out, and the PG-13 rating will make it easy for a broad audience to take to the theaters in droves. I know this will be a movie I’ll see on opening weekend, so however much it makes know that a small $14 was mine. Every dollar counts, you know!

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BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY hits theaters November 2.