Queen's Final Freddie Mercury Concert Film Gets IMAX Release
A concert film of Queen's 1986 Budapest performance, the last filmed show with Freddie Mercury, will hit theaters on Oct. 7, including IMAX screenings. The trailer features iconic moments like Mercury's 'Aaayyoo' call and performances of 'We Will Rock You' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' The release includes a new interview with Brian May and Roger Taylor reflecting on the concert.
The film captures Queen’s July 27, 1986, show at Budapest’s Népstadion, a concert that drew 80,000 ticketholders and thousands more listening outside. The set list spanned 25 songs, including hits like “Under Pressure” and “Radio Ga Ga,” plus an acoustic Hungarian folk tune. The trailer highlights Mercury’s theatrical flourishes, from his crown and cape to beer cups left on his piano.
This release marks the first time the Budapest performance has been widely presented in IMAX, with over 2,000 cinemas participating. Alongside the concert footage, a new interview with Brian May and Roger Taylor offers retrospective commentary. The film serves as a lasting document of Queen’s final filmed live appearance with Mercury, who died in 1991.
This IMAX release could rekindle public interest in Queen’s legacy, drawing both longtime fans and younger audiences unfamiliar with their live shows. The immersive format may enhance the emotional weight of Mercury’s final filmed performance, potentially boosting nostalgia-driven tourism or streaming activity. It could also reinforce the band’s enduring cultural footprint, though its impact likely remains limited to entertainment circles rather than broader societal change.