'5-star' biopic of legendary singer will leave Netflix in just days

The 2018 biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, which chronicles the extraordinary life of Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury, made quite a splash upon its release.

The film zeroes in on the iconic musician's journey, particularly from the inception of Queen in 1970 through to their unforgettable Live Aid performance at the original Wembley Stadium in 1985, making it a resounding success.

Bohemian Rhapsody was a box office sensation, raking in an impressive $910.8 million globally against a production budget of $50-55 million.

This staggering revenue propelled it to become the highest-grossing biographical drama ever, until it was recently toppled by Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer in 2023. It also secured its place as the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2018.

Despite currently being available on Netflix, fans should note that Bohemian Rhapsody will be departing the streaming platform on June 15. The screenplay, crafted by Anthony McCarten, saw Queen's manager Jim Beach and Graham King take on the roles of producers.

Bryan Singer directed the film, which was first announced in 2010 with Sacha Baron Cohen slated to portray Freddie Mercury, reports . However, due to creative differences with the producers, the Borat actor left the project in mid-2013, causing a delay until 2016 when Rami Malek was cast in the leading role.

The film's production troubles didn't stop there. Bryan Singer, who was the director for most of the principal photography that started in London in September 2017, was dismissed from the project in December 2017 due to his frequent no-shows on set and conflicts with the cast and crew.

Dexter Fletcher, who was initially considered to direct the film during its early development stages, was then brought in to complete the film. However, due to Directors Guild of America regulations, Bryan Singer retained the sole directing credit, while Dexter Fletcher was credited as an executive producer.

Rami Malek took the lead role as Freddie Mercury, supported by a star-studded cast including Lucy Boynton, Ben Hardy, Tom Hollander, Joe Mazzello, Mike Myers, Gwilym Lee, and Aidan Gillen. Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor also served as consultants on the film.

Bohemian Rhapsody had an outstanding run at the awards circuit, scooping four top honours at the 91st Academy Awards: Best Actor for Rami Malek, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing, along with a Best Picture nomination for the film. Rami received a Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor for his portrayal.

Bohemian Rhapsody also won the Best Motion Picture - Drama, at the Golden Globe Awards that year, as well as the BAFTA Award for Best British Film. The biopic garnered a mixed bag of critiques, yet Rami's depiction of the iconic Queen lead singer was universally lauded, with one critic penning: "Malek does an impressive job of re-creating Mercury's moves onstage, but the core of the performance is Malek's intensely thoughtful, insight-rich channelling of Mercury's hurt, his alienation and isolation even at the height of his fame."

Another reviewer was captivated by Malek's portrayal: "I can't remember the last time I have been so gripped by an actor's performance, from the first frame to the last." One critic offered a tempered view: "Bohemian Rhapsody doesn't suck.

"There's a soul inside it, and some anguish, too." Yet another shared a mixed sentiment: "Rami Malek is a revelation, but his performance feels wasted in Bohemian Rhapsody, a movie that can't decide if it wants to honour Queen frontman Freddie Mercury or punish him."

The film's treatment of Freddie Mercury's sexuality drew criticism for its cautious approach, as one commentator observed: "Bohemian Rhapsody is a movie that consciously tries to position a gay man at its centre while strategically disengaging with the 'gay' part as much as it can..." However, general audiences were more forgiving, with one fan expressing: "This biopic shows us a glimpse of who Freddie was and became, the emotions given are pure at heart, you felt every beat and followed every step.

"This story may not have been entirely factual but we are given a blue print of where the band stood and the relation to Freddie." One enthusiastic reviewer raved: "The performance the actor has given has matched both persona and musically, the energy and time has been well placed, the cinematography is crisp.

"This may be one of the few biopics that would stay true to its fallen legend. The fact Brian May was involved made this bio pic official and not superficial.

"It is a must see for any Queen fan." Meanwhile, another fan gave the film a glowing endorsement, stating: "5/5 great movie, I've seen it more than twice.

"I'm not going into more details. I don't want to argue with a bunch of wanna be Queen fans. A must see movie."

Bohemian Rhapsody will leave Netflix on June 15.