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In celebration of the 30-year anniversary of the legendary Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness that featured the likes of Elton John, George Michael and David Bowie, “Freddie Mercury: The Final Act” is a new documentary that will tell the story of that concert.
“Freddie Mercury: The Final Act” premieres Wednesday, April 20, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CW. If you don’t have cable, here are some ways you can watch the documentary streaming online:
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FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of the CW (live in most, but not all, markets) and 100-plus other TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a seven-day free trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch “Freddie Mercury: The Final Act” live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” The CW (live in select markets) is included in every one, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free five-day trial:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch “Freddie Mercury: The Final Act” live on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of the CW (live in select markets) and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which now also includes both ESPN+ and Disney+ as part of their special bundle:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch “Freddie Mercury: The Final Act” live on the Hulu app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Hulu website.
‘Freddie Mercury: The Final Act’ Preview
“Freddie Mercury: The Final Act” is a documentary made by the BBC that is getting its U.S. debut on The CW. It tells the story of how Queen’s frontman was honored by his musical friends to raise awareness and fight the stigma around HIV and AIDS, according to The CW press release.
It continues:
“Freddie Mercury: The Final Act” showcases the extraordinary final chapter of Freddie Mercury’s life and how, after his death from AIDS, Queen staged one of the biggest concerts in history — the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium — to celebrate his life and challenge the prejudices around HIV/AIDS. Featuring new interviews with Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen, the documentary features extensive footage from the concert and behind-the-scenes rehearsals, including performances by Elton John, George Michael, David Bowie, Annie Lennox, and more. The film also hears directly from those who performed at the epic gig, including Roger Daltrey (The Who), Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Lisa Stansfield and Paul Young, as well as the concert’s promoter, Harvey Goldsmith.
For the first time, Freddie’s story is told alongside the experiences of those who tested positive for HIV and lost loved ones during the same period. Medical practitioners, survivors and human rights campaigners recount the intensity of living through the AIDS pandemic and the moral panic it brought about. Featuring the first major interview with Kashmira Bulsara, Freddie’s sister, this is the story of a tragedy that allowed vital conversations that couldn’t previously be held to finally be brought to light.
In its review, NME calls the documentary a “poignant and tender film about the last five years of Mercury’s life.”
“Amid the encroaching horror [of dying from AIDS], the film paints a portrait of love and solidarity, as the band closes ranks to protect Mercury, and the man who was looking for somebody to love is living with his soulmate,” writes the review. “Although compassionate and empathetic, it’s unflinching in its description of the medical toll of his final years, as he masks the pain of recording ‘The Show Must Go On’ with shots of vodka. He died aged 45, a day after revealing he had Aids: perfect timing, as he didn’t want to go through the misery of being an object of pity or scrutiny.”
“Freddie Mercury: The Final Act” premieres Wednesday, April 20 at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times on The CW.