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Rami Malek talks about Freddie Mercury in the new biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody."
USA TODAY

Ben Hardy (as Roger Taylor, from left), Gwilym Lee (Brian May), Joe Mazzello (John Deacon) and Rami Malek (Freddie Mercury) star in the Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody."(Photo: ALEX BAILEY / 20TH CENTURY FOX)

NEW YORK – The Biopic Freddie Mercury "Bohemian Rhapsody" shrugged off production disorders mediocre reviews to start with an estimated $ 50 million in weekend ticket sales, well above expectations.

The long-gestating movie starring Rami Malek as the Queen has been pegged for closer to $ 35 million to $ 40 million in its opening weekend. But hearings were drawn to theaters by the allure of Malek's widely praised performance by Queen's foot-stomping anthems.

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Rounding out the rest of the top five: Disney's live-action "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms," starring Mackenzie Foy as Clara, was a distant second with $ 20 million, despite a budget of $ 125 million, while Tiffany Haddish's new comedy, " Nobody's Fool, "trailed in third with $ 14 million.

The Bradley Cooper-Lady Gaga remake of "A Star Is Born" slipped to fourth place in its fifth week with $ 11.1 million, narrowing edging out the latest "Halloween" movie with Jamie Lee Curtis, which was fifth with $ 11 million.

Final numbers are expected Monday.

Contributing: Kim Willis

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'Bohemian Rhapsody' is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defies stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet.
20th Century Fox

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