Queen‘s greatest song, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” also owns the title of the band’s most memorable movie moment. The car scene from Wayne’s World stands as one of the most iconic in cinematic history. But “Bohemian Rhapsody” is hardly the only of the band’s songs to have been used in spectacular fashion. “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions,” two of their biggest worldwide hits, have also been put to amazing use in film and television (and also one amazing commercial). So with the band’s new biopic starring Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury coming to theaters, here are nine of our favorite times their rock anthems came to the screen.
A Knight’s Tale
How do you let an audience know your (underrated) medieval movie about jousting in fourteenth century Europe will be full of modern references and music, while also getting them pumped to root for your film’s protagonist? By opening with “We Will Rock You” and having the commoners get involved like they were clapping and stomping along at an actual Queen concert, that’s how.
Revenge of the Nerds
If you ignore every horrible, vile, racist, misogynistic, criminal thing that happens in Revenge of the Nerds and just focus on the movie’s final scene, it’s pretty uplifting. Bullies are put in their place and the social outcasts of the world get to stand tall. “We Are the Champions” perfectly captures this spirit of this David triumphing over Goliath moment.
Pixels
Trust us, we are not praising Pixels. Normally we prefer to forget it ever existed. However, it does highlight the power of using a Queen song, because “We Will Rock You” makes an arcade competition between two kids feel like the most epic event in human history. The song’s so amazing it even helps make the big battle with Donkey Kong at the end not totally terrible!
The Mighty Ducks
“Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!” When you are celebrating pulling off a triple deke on a penalty shot with no time left on the clock, ending the unstoppable Hawks dynasty, there’s only one song in recorded human history you want to hear as you pour out onto the ice to celebrate.And of course you bring it back for the sequel after you beat Iceland.
The Big Bang Theory
CBS’s long-running hit series isn’t always our cup of nerd tea, but we’d be lying if we said Sheldon doesn’t make us laugh sometimes. Some of our favorite moments are when he totally surprises us by acting out of character, like he did when he showed off his love for and/or amazing memory of “We Will Rock You.”
Regular Show
Since “We Are the Champions” is a perfect song for a huge win—as evident by it being played at literally every championship parade for the last four decades—it’s also ripe for comedy, like when something relatively minor but somehow also monumental happens. Sort of like when Mordecai got a kiss from Margaret on Regular Show.
Avenue Q
After The Muppetsdid their own version of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the cast of the Broadway musical Avenue Q responded with their take on some classic Queen. Despite being intentionally funny and over-the-top, this performance of both “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions” still rocks. We’d definitely see a Queen version of a Mamma Mia-style musical starring felt with eyes.
The Simpsons
“They say he’s five hundred pounds of bottom-dwelling fury, don’t you know. No one knows how old he is, but if you ask me, and most people do, he’s a hundred years if he’s a day.†That’s why no one ever caught General Sherman, until Homer Simpson came along that is. And while no one will ever know he did it, because Homer gave up fame and breakfast to save his marriage, no one can take away his musical moment in the boat singing about his triumph.
Pepsi Commercial (Starring Britney Spears, Beyonce, Pink, and Enrique Iglesias)
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