Someone Sang ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in Minionese at a Film Premiere and the Internet Is Obsessed
Film premieres can vary greatly, but some create moments so perfectly aligned with their brand that they capture the internet’s attention instantly. The promotional rollout for Illumination’s ‘Minions and Monsters’ has achieved just that, featuring Queen, the iconic yellow creatures, and a dedicated performer.
‘Minions and Monsters’ marks the third prequel in the Minions spin-off franchise and the seventh film in the expansive Despicable Me universe.
Set in 1920 and occurring 48 years before the original ‘Minions’ film, the story follows the beloved yellow characters as they try to create their own monster movie in Old Hollywood, inadvertently summoning real monsters along the way. This premise has garnered strong early critical acclaim, and the promotional campaign has matched the film’s chaotic energy at every turn.
During the film’s premiere event, a woman took the stage to perform a rendition of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” entirely in Minionese, the whimsical language spoken by the characters throughout the franchise.
The clip quickly amassed 3.4 million views within hours of being shared, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of likes and thousands of comments. The video features two women on stage against a Minion-themed backdrop, creating a theatrical premiere atmosphere that adds a surreal quality to the performance.
This moment is one that cannot be manufactured. It’s a genuine performance in a made-up language, set to one of the most recognizable songs ever, resonating with an audience that clearly understands the humor. The clip spread rapidly as people felt compelled to share it with others.
Directed by Pierre Coffin, who also voices the Minions, the film is co-written by Coffin and Brian Lynch. The voice cast features Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Bridges, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, Trey Parker, and Phil LaMarr, with filmmaker George Lucas also confirmed to have a role after being approached by producer Chris Meledandri due to his well-known love for the franchise.
‘Minions and Monsters’ had its premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 21, 2026, ahead of its wide theatrical release in the United States on July 1 by Universal Pictures. Early screenings for Xfinity and Fandango members were also scheduled for June 29, allowing the promotional campaign to build momentum in the final days before release.
The Minionese rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody” aligns perfectly with critics’ early impressions of the film. Reviews have been notably more positive than expected for a seventh installment in a franchise. Writing for Variety, Guy Lodge described the film as “smarter, wilder and funnier,” calling it “fully, madly moviosa” and “mostly delightful,” while highlighting its genuine creative peak and affectionate nods to classic Hollywood cinema.
CinemaBlend noted that critics have used terms like “creative high” and “peak for the series” in their reviews, with one calling it her favorite among the solo Minions films. Such acclaim for a seventh installment is indeed remarkable.
The connection to “Bohemian Rhapsody” is not coincidental. The song has a long-standing relationship with animated comedy, and applying a nonsensical language to one of rock music’s most dramatic compositions is an inspired promotional tactic. The distinct nature of Minionese amplifies the humor, as anyone familiar with the franchise recognizes its sound, making the contrast with Queen’s grandeur all the more shareable.
‘Minions and Monsters’ is set to stream on Peacock for the first four months of its pay-TV window following its theatrical run, before transitioning to Netflix for the next ten months. For now, the Minions continue to dominate the cultural conversation in a way that defies explanation.
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