Bohemian Rhapsodyis most definitelynota poor boy, it needs no sympathy. The Queen biopic fronted byRami Malekas Freddie Mercury rocked its way to $50 million over the weekend, soaring past expectations to become the second-best opening for a music biopic ever behind 2015’sStraight Outta Compton. The film—which saw original director Bryan Singer fired with weeks left in production—hasn’t exactly been a critical hit, but audiences, who gave Bohemian an A CinemaScore, said, “doesn’t really matter to me.”
(Too-ooh meeeeeeeee)
The film’s immediate success marks one last major victory for 20th Century Fox before the studio is absorbed by Disney, a studio that, funny enough, had aterribleweekend. Bohemian Rhapsody’s opening was a little high, butThe Nutcracker and the Four Realmswas a little low, taking in an uninspiring $20 million. Any way the wind blows, that’s a bomb, considering the lavish Christmas-themed film was reportedly made for at least $125 million. The film, an adaptation of the iconic ballet and the short story its based on, starsHelen Mirren,Morgan Freeman, andKiera Knightley.
Coming in third isNobody’s Fool, taking in a modest $14 million. Starring Tiffany Haddish, the film is writer/directorTyler Perry’s first R-rated movie and, coincidentally, one of the worst openings of his career. Just for comparison,Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jailopened to $41 million in 2009, a reminder of simpler times.
Joel Edgerton’s gay conversion therapy dramaBoy Erasedwon the specialty box, opening to $220,000 on five screens. The Rosamund Pike-starringA Private Warnabbed $72,000 on four screens, whileBodiedgarnered about $50,000 on 14 screens, not a terrific sign forJoseph Kahn’s rap battle drama.
Check out the weekend’s top 10 estimates below, and be back here next week to see ifThe Grinch’s box office can grow three sizes that day.
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
$165,634,566
$11,015,000
$150,408,705
$7,850,000
$198,663,348
$3,805,000
$77,484,301
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
$3,700,000
$43,832,316
Hunter Killer
$3,525,000
$12,965,116
The Hate U Give
$3,400,000
$23,460,924
