Netflix subscribers have just over a month to revisit one of the most talked-about Oscar winners of the past decade. Bohemian Rhapsody, the Freddie Mercury biopic that sparked fierce debate while raking in nearly a billion dollars worldwide, will leave the streaming service on July 1, 2026.
Directed by Bryan Singer and starring Rami Malek in a career-defining performance, the film chronicles the rise of Queen and culminates in a stunning recreation of the band's 1985 Live Aid set. Upon release, it became a cultural phenomenon, grossing $911 million globally and claiming the title of highest-grossing music biopic—a record it held until this year's Michael surpassed it. At the 2019 Oscars, it won four awards: Best Actor for Malek, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing, more than any other film that night.
Yet Bohemian Rhapsody was also one of the most divisive films of its era. Critics took issue with its liberal approach to historical facts. The movie suggests Queen temporarily broke up over Mercury's solo ambitions before reuniting for Live Aid, when in reality the concert was just a stop on their ongoing tour. It also shows Mercury learning of his AIDS diagnosis before Live Aid and channeling that emotion into his performance, though he wasn't diagnosed until 1987. Song timelines were shuffled too, with "Fat Bottomed Girls" appearing years early and "We Will Rock You" written far ahead of its actual creation.
Beyond historical inaccuracies, the film faced criticism for downplaying Mercury's sexuality, a move many saw as straightwashing a complex, queer icon for mainstream appeal. As audience expectations for biopics have evolved, such liberties have become more accepted—similar debates surrounded this year's Michael, which presented a sanitized version of Michael Jackson's life. Still, Bohemian Rhapsody remains a landmark that helped revive the music biopic genre, paving the way for recent hits like Deliver Me From Nowhere and Michael.
For those who've enjoyed the latest wave of music biopics, this is a chance to see the film that started it all. Its departure from Netflix makes it harder to stream, so now is the time to watch—or rewatch—Malek's electrifying transformation and that legendary Live Aid sequence.
If you're looking for more streaming options this month, check out Jason Statham's 'The Italian Job' Steals the Show on Netflix in June 2026 or Hugh Jackman's 'Song Sung Blue' Sings Its Way to Netflix Success in June 2026. For a different kind of biopic, Chiwetel Ejiofor's Overlooked 2007 Biopic 'Talk to Me' Heads to Netflix in July 2026 is worth a look.
Whatever its flaws, Bohemian Rhapsody remains a must-watch for music fans and a key chapter in modern cinema. Don't let it slip away from your queue.
