Magnifico – that’s the perfect word to use for the debut weekend of Bohemian Rhapsody, the long-in-gestation biopic that tells the story of Queen and their awe-inspiring lead singer, Freddie Mercury.
Proving the enduring appeal of the band’s music, and Mercury himself, the film debut at the top of the box office with an outstanding $50 million. Even though reviews for the film were so-so, Bohemian Rhapsody clearly resonated with audiences. The onslaught of exceptional trailers putting Rami Malek’s uncanny interpretation of Mercury front and centre was certainly a huge part in making the movie must-see on its opening weekend. Even if the film plays fast and loose with the real history of the band, audiences don’t clearly didn’t care. It will be interesting to see how things develop around awards time; Malek’s performance seems a must-nominate, but you never know, do you?
As for the rest of the top five, The Nutracker and the Four Realms debut in second place with $20 million, not a great number for Disney. With the imminent arrival of The Grinch in theaters, The Nutrcracker’s one and only chance to grab families didn’t play out as I’m sure the studio hoped.
Meanwhile, Tiffany Hadish’s Nobody’s Fool debut in third place with $14 million. A Star Is Born was in fourth with $11.1 million, while Halloween (2018) was right behind it in fifth place with $11 million.
So, to recap, here were our predictions:
1) Bohemian Rhapsody – $42 million
2) The Nutcracker and Four Realms – $20 million
3) Halloween (2018) – $16 million
4) Nobody’s Fool – $15.5 million
5) A Star Is Born – $10 million
And here’s how the weekend is estimated to turn out:
1) Bohemian Rhapsody – $50 million
2) The Nutcracker and Four Realms – $20 million
3) Nobody’s Fool – $14 million
4) A Star Is Born – $11.1 million
5) Halloween (2018) – $11 million
Next weekend sees the release of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, Overlord, and Girl in the Spider’s Web. Be sure to check back on Friday to see our predictions!
