Iconic rockers QUEEN have hit back at the critics of their "Bohemian Rhapsody" film, claiming that "a lot of the media" hates the fact that the band is "too fucking popular."

Released last November, "Bohemian Rhapsody" has become the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time, bringing in more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. It is also No. 1 biggest-selling film of 2019 on home release. This was despite a lukewarm reaction from critics upon release.

In an exclusive interview to be published in the new issue of Planet Rock magazine, QUEEN drummer Roger Taylor commented on the advance media coverage in the U.K. for the film, for which Rami Malek collected "Best Actor" awards at the Oscars, the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury. Roger said: "There was kind of a mood of… an expectation of disaster.

"We're a funny old country, aren't we? The trouble with us is we're too fucking popular, and a lot of the media just hate that.

"There were some decent reviews," he pointed out, "but there were many that were kinda sneering and superficial. I thought, 'You just don't get it, do you? You weren't moved, and whatever, but fuck you, actually. Fuck you all the way to the bank, actually.'

"But bad reviews usually mean that it's going to be really successful," he continued.

"I think people know a lot more than film critics, and the word of mouth via social media is so much more powerful than review from a guy who probably watches 40 movies a week, and has probably lost the essence of the joy of a movie."

The new issue of Planet Rock magazine, with QUEEN on two covers, is on-sale from October 25.

QUEEN's original soundtrack to the film has remained high in the U.K. album chart ever since its November 2018 debut; in the U.S., it became the band's highest-charting album in 38 years, and QUEEN sold more albums in North America than any artist in the first half of 2019. The timeless and groundbreaking "Bohemian Rhapsody' video has reached a historic one billion views on YouTube making it the most viewed music clip of the 20th Century. In addition, YouTube views of "Don't Stop Me Now" have passed the 500-million mark.