Bohemian Rhapsody

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Lore & Background

The film was announced in late 2010, with Sacha Baron Cohen set to play Mercury. After he left the project in mid-2013 following creative differences with producers, the project languished until Malek was cast and Singer was hired as director in November 2016. Singer served as director through most of principal photography, which began in London in September 2017, but was fired in December of the same year due to frequent absences and clashes with the cast and crew. Dexter Fletcher, who was originally set to direct when the project was early in development, was hired to complete the film; Singer retained sole director credit as per Directors Guild of America guidelines, while Fletcher received an executive producer credit. Filming concluded in January 2018.

Reader's Guide

The film traces Mercury's transformation from Farrokh Bulsara, a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport, to the global icon who headlined Live Aid in 1985. The story opens in 1970 when he discovers a college band called Smile performing at a pub and offers to replace their departed singer. After impressing drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May with his voice, he joins the group, which eventually becomes Queen with bassist John Deacon. The narrative follows the band's rise through hits like "Killer Queen" and the controversial release of "Bohemian Rhapsody," which they debut on Kenny Everett's radio show after EMI refuses to issue it as a single. Personal drama threads through the music: Freddie's relationship with Mary Austin, his coming out as bisexual, his turbulent partnership with manager Paul Prenter, his solo career with CBS, and his eventual diagnosis with HIV. The film culminates in the band's electrifying Live Aid set, after which intertitles note Freddie's death in November 1991 at age 45.

Did You Know?

• The film was announced in late 2010 with Sacha Baron Cohen set to play Mercury, but he left in mid-2013 due to creative differences.
• Bryan Singer was fired in December 2017 due to frequent absences and clashes with the cast and crew; Dexter Fletcher completed the film.
• The film grossed over $911 million worldwide on a production budget of $50–55 million.
• At the 91st Academy Awards, the film won four Oscars: Best Actor, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing.
• The film's premiere took place at Wembley Arena on October 23, 2018.

A Turbulent Road to the Screen

The journey from concept to finished film was anything but smooth. Brian May first revealed plans for a Queen biopic in September 2010, with Sacha Baron Cohen initially attached to portray Freddie Mercury. However, Cohen departed in mid-2013 over creative disagreements with the producers, and the project sat dormant for several years. The revival came in November 2016 when Rami Malek was cast and Bryan Singer was brought on as director. Principal photography kicked off in London in September 2017, but by December of that year, Singer was dismissed after repeated absences and friction with both cast and crew. Dexter Fletcher, who had been the original directorial choice during early development, stepped in to finish the shoot, which wrapped in January 2018. Under Directors Guild of America rules, Singer kept sole director credit while Fletcher received an executive producer credit. The screenplay was written by Anthony McCarten, with the story co-developed by McCarten and Peter Morgan. Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor served as consultants throughout.

From Baggage Handler to Wembley

The film traces Mercury's transformation from Farrokh Bulsara, a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport, to the global icon who headlined Live Aid in 1985. The story opens in 1970 when he discovers a college band called Smile performing at a pub and offers to replace their departed singer. After impressing drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May with his voice, he joins the group, which eventually becomes Queen with bassist John Deacon. The narrative follows the band's rise through hits like "Killer Queen" and the controversial release of "Bohemian Rhapsody," which they debut on Kenny Everett's radio show after EMI refuses to issue it as a single. Personal drama threads through the music: Freddie's relationship with Mary Austin, his coming out as bisexual, his turbulent partnership with manager Paul Prenter, his solo career with CBS, and his eventual diagnosis with HIV. The film culminates in the band's electrifying Live Aid set, after which intertitles note Freddie's death in November 1991 at age 45.

Critical Division, Commercial Triumph

The film's reception was sharply divided. Critics praised the musical sequences and Rami Malek's portrayal of Mercury, but took issue with Singer's direction, the film's handling of Mercury and other figures, and its liberal use of creative licence. Despite the mixed critical response, audiences responded with extraordinary enthusiasm. Released by 20th Century Fox in the UK on October 24, 2018, and in the US on November 2, the film grossed over $911 million worldwide against a production budget of just $50–55 million. At the time of its release, it set all-time box office records for both the biographical and drama genres, and it ranked as the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2018 globally. Over time, it has since slipped to the third-highest-grossing biographical film of all time. The premiere took place at Wembley Arena on October 23, 2018, a fitting venue given the film's climactic Live Aid sequence.

A Night of Golden Statuettes

The film's award-season campaign proved remarkably successful. At the 91st Academy Awards, it collected four competitive Oscars: Rami Malek won Best Actor, and the film took home Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing. It also received a Best Picture nomination. At the 76th Golden Globe Awards, it won Best Motion Picture – Drama, and Malek captured the Best Actor trophy. His performance was further recognized with a Screen Actors Guild Award and a BAFTA for Best Actor. The film was additionally nominated for the Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture and the BAFTA Award for Best British Film. Malek's portrayal of Mercury, drawing on the character's emotional vulnerability and larger-than-life stage presence, became the defining performance of the year, anchoring the film's critical and popular success despite reservations about other aspects of the production.