Queen is easily one of the most popular rock bands that ever existed. They’ve sold so many records that the actual figure can’t be determined. Estimates for the number of records they’ve sold range from 170 million to 300 million. In 2018, the year the band’s Oscar-winning biopic Bohemian Rhapsody hit theaters, they received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Directors who enjoy Queen’s music have licensed it for their movies. From the iconic singalong in Wayne Campbell’s car to the beloved theme song from Flash Gordon, Queen’s music has been used to create a bunch of memorable movie moments over the years.
The Soundtrack Of Bohemian Rhapsody
The soundtrack of Bohemian Rhapsody was the saving grace in a tonally inconsistent, choppily edited biopic. Sacha Baron Cohen’s warts-and-all portrait of Freddie Mercury sounds like it would’ve been a much better movie.
While the movie itself did a lot of things wrong (and the involvement of the other Queen members is obvious in their glorification of themselves), Queen’s incredible music gave Bohemian Rhapsody a soundtrack to die for.
“Another One Bites The Dust” In Iron Man 2
Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” plays at Tony Stark’s birthday party in Iron Man 2 when he gets drunk and he and Rhodey get into a fight in a pair of Iron Man suits.
Jon Favreau’s overstuffed sequel took inspiration from the surprisingly dark “Demon in a Bottle” storyline, which saw Tony succumbing to alcoholism.
“It’s Late” In Observe And Report
While Kevin James’ mall cop movie Paul Blart is an agreeable family-friendly slapstick comedy, Seth Rogen’s mall cop movie Observe and Report is a pitch-black satire taking cues from Scorsese’s psychological thrillers Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy.
Queen’s “It’s Late” plays twice throughout the movie: first, in the police training montage, and second, after Ronnie arrests a criminal and takes him down to the station. It also plays over the end credits.
“Under Pressure” In Atomic Blonde
“Under Pressure” is one of Queen’s most popular collaborations, featuring contributions by the late, great David Bowie. It’s been used in a few movies, including the slick ‘80s-set Cold War spy thriller Atomic Blonde.
The song plays as Charlize Theron is riding an elevator near the end of the movie before meeting with John Goodman, and it also plays over the closing credits.
“We Will Rock You” In Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
One of the funniest sports comedies ever made, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story stars Vince Vaughn as the proprietor of a gym for regular people who takes on the corporate gym threatening to drive him out of business in a dodgeball tournament.
Queen’s “We Will Rock You” plays as White Goodman and the Globo Gym team take the court for the climactic dodgeball game in front of celebrity judge Chuck Norris.
“Who Wants To Live Forever” In Highlander
The fantasy adventure Highlander didn’t make a huge splash on its initial release, but it has become a revered cult classic in the years since it hit theaters.
Brian May wrote the track “Who Wants to Live Forever” specifically for Highlander. He based the lyrics on his interpretation of the themes of the story.
“Brighton Rock” In Baby Driver
Music is an essential component of Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver, which revolves around a getaway driver who needs to listen to his iPod to get in the right headspace to outdrive the cops. In one scene, Buddy asks Baby what his “killer track” is and he says it’s “Brighton Rock” by Queen.
Later, Buddy plays “Brighton Rock” during his final confrontation with Baby. The song hadn’t been hugely popular before Baby Driver hit theaters, but the movie gave the song a new wave of fame.
The Soundtrack Of Flash Gordon
George Lucas made Star Wars after trying and failing to get a Flash Gordon movie off the ground. Ironically, after Star Wars brought space opera back into the mainstream, a Flash Gordon movie had no problem getting made.
Queen composed the soundtrack for the 1980 Flash Gordon movie, with the band’s most notable contribution being the aptly titled theme song “Flash.”
“Don’t Stop Me Now” In Shaun Of The Dead
Early in Shaun of the Dead, it’s established that the jukebox in the Winchester Pub plays songs at random. When the survivors of a zombie apocalypse are holed up in the pub and they’re attacked by the zombified pub landlord, Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” spontaneously plays on the jukebox.
Shaun, Ed, and Liz end up going along with the rhythm of the song as they beat up the zombie with pool cues. Shaun ends up cutting the song short by smashing the zombie into the jukebox.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” In Wayne’s World
Easily the most iconic movie moment involving a Queen song is when Wayne, Garth, and their friends sing along to “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the car on their way to a night of clubbing in Wayne’s World.
The studio wanted the filmmakers to use a more current song, but Mike Myers pushed for “Bohemian Rhapsody” and the movie’s success ended up giving the song a second wind.
