Bohemian Rhapsodyhas paid its dues of terrible reviews,timeaftertime, and former directorBryan Singerhas done no sentence despite (allegedly) committing several crimes. And bad mistakes, the script made a few. It’s pretty fair to sayBohemian Rhapsodyhas had its share of sand kicked in its face, but it’s come through…with a $18.4 million Friday box office, on track for a well-above-expectations $45 million.
The film—which stars of-hoodedMr. RobotactorRami Malekas Queen frontman Freddie Mercury—has had a less rockin' and more rocky road to the big-screen, withFox firing Singeras director with just a few weeks left in production.Bohemianhasn’t fared too fantastically with critics—although our own Perri Nemiroff was “completely taken” by the film—but it has garnered an A CinemaScore from audiences. The projected opening take would be the second highest of all time for a music biopic, right behind 2015’sStraight Outta Compton($60.2 million).
Elsewhere,The Nutcracker and the Four Realmsdidn’t exactly sleigh the competition. Disney’s adaptation of the iconic ballet took in $5.6 million Friday, almost as if people don’t want to see a Christmas-themed CGI extravaganza one day after Halloween. Nutcracker is on track for an opening weekend somewhere in the $18-20 million ballpark, disappointing numbers considering the film reportedly cost $125 million to produce.
R-rated comedyNobody’s Foolwill land in third, marking the first weekend in what seems like all eternity with a top-three not featuringVenom($1.9 million, sixth) orA Star Is Born($3.1 million, fifth). That’s not to say the film—written and directed byTyler Perryand starring dynamoTiffany Haddish—did particularly well. Nobody’s Fool nabbed $4.8 million on Friday night, trending toward a lukewarm $12 million debut.
Take a look at Friday’s numbers below and check back tomorrow for full weekend estimates. (Numbers viaBox Office Mojo)
Bohemian Rhapsody
$18,400,000
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
$5,619,000
Nobody’s Fool
$4,800,000
$3,331,000
$142,724,705
A Star Is Born
$3,150,000
$157,684,566
