Bohemian Rhapsody makes history in Japan after record breaking attendance

Critically acclaimed Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” has made box office history in Japan after earning more than $833 million worldwide.

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20th Century Fox’s much loved biographical film which depicts the life of Queen's frontman Freddie Mercury, set an all-time record exceeding $100 million at theaters in Japan, beating blockbuster hits like “Avengers: Infinity War” and pushing the film to new heights in international markets.

Traditionally, the domestic market has been the most closely watched to gauge a film’s success but increasingly, territories such as China and Japan have provided spectacular returns for a number of Hollywood pictures.

Thanks to added hype over the Christmas period and into the New Year, Japan’s major film distributor, Toho, has arranged hundreds of additional screenings where fans of the film can sing along and also dress up, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Starring Rami Malek, Ben Hardy, Gwilym Lee and Mike Myers, the film was shot in the UK and has received nominations for this year’s Oscars including Best Actor (Malek) and Best Picture. Earlier in January the film also won Best Motion Picture in the Drama category at the Golden Globes Awards.

Bohemian Rhapsody trailer

Prior to the film’s release, critics and LGBT activists had slammed the movie saying it was ignoring Freddie Mercury’s sexuality. Despite the backlash before it came out, audiences gave the film glowing reviews, praising the performances and the film’s direction, further boosting its attendance and repeat viewings.

Originally released last October, “Bohemian Rhapsody” has grossed $208 million at the domestic box office and $624 million worldwide.

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