The Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody was expected to pull in somewhere between $35M-$40M in its opening weekend, but now new estimates show the film has cashed in on a $50M debut to soar to the top at the box office this weekend. Currently, the film boasts an 88 percent positive rating from audiences on CinemaScore. It marks the second biggest start of all time for a music biopic since the mania surrounding Straight Outta Compton, which earned $60.2 million its first week.
The film chronicles the story of legendary British rock band Queen and its frontman Mercury. It's the latest music-themed film to rock box offices this season, coming in ahead of the $42.9 million debut figure enjoyed by the Lady Gaga-led A Star Is Born film. It's also a great development for a film that was so troubled behind-the-scenes with director Bryan Singer being fired shortly before the end of production. While he retains the only credit as director, he was replaced by Dexter Fletcher at the eleventh hour. Costing $52 million to create, the film looks to be another win for Fox this year whose only other big opening this year came from Deadpool 2.
Following behind Rhapsody, you'll find Disney's Nutcracker and the Four Realms entering at a dismal $20 million in the United States, marking a major miss for the $125 million-budget Disney film. Tyler Perry's Nobody's Fool, the director's first R-rated comedy, starring Tiffany Haddish marks one of the lowest entries of Perry's career with $13.5-$14M.