Bohemian Rhapsody Movie Premiers in the United States

Are you ready? Are you ready for this? Are you hanging from the edge of your seat?

Released on the 1975 Night at the Opera album, the song Bohemian Rhapsody was a fresh, complex, grand counter to the works of many contemporary artists of the time. Fast forward to 2018, a new rhapsody emerges to tell the fresh, complex, grand story of the band and legendary vocalist who created the iconic composition, and changed the music industry forever: Queen.

Just released in the United States, Bohemian Rhapsody chronicles the journey of the band Queen and front man Freddie Mercury from their formation in 1970, up to the iconic Live Aid concert performance, now regarded by many as one of the best live rock performances of all time. Staring in the movie is Mr. Robot star and Emmy Award Winner Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, as well as Game of Thrones villain Aidan Gillen, Wayne’s World star Mike Myers, Lucy Boynton, and more familiar faces.

Early reviews have generally been positive, with 5-star marks going to Rami Malek for his flamboyant portrayal of larger-than-life Freddie Mercury, prompting Peter Travers of Rolling Stone to write “Put Rami Malek high on the list for best film performance of 2018.” Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly mirrors the sentiments, saying “More than mere good acting, though, Malek has the ineffable pixie dust the part requires.”

When asked if he was ever fully comfortable playing such a major character, Malek says “There were moments when I was comfortable, because if you walk out there on stage playing Freddie Mercury and you’re not confident, you might as well shut down the production. It took a lot of prep. I think one thing I learned from his was to be liberated – to be free. To not feel like you were compromised by anything. And he gave me a freedom I could step out there with and feel like I could command an audience. Never quite like he could, but I just tried to fill those shoes as best as I could and honor and justice a human being I considered a revolutionary.”

The movie’s biggest criticism thus far comes from the lack of Freddie Mercury’s true sexuality, opting to focus more on his partnership with Mary Austin while minimizing his romantic relationships with others, including lifelong partner Jim Hutton. However, most reviews count Bohemian Rhapsody as being a fun and energetic movie any Queen fan will love, with a soundtrack that oozes with the nostalgia and music we crave.

Gear the latest Queen t-shirts and merch so you can hit the theaters in style. If you see the movie, we want to hear what you think of it! Let us know your review in the comments below.