The highlight it also had to overcome negative reviews from critics, who often dismissed the film as too bad and too mediocre. With a 26% score among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but an 83% audience score, it decided to split the middle.
Audience response was also reflected in the film’s success, which was streamed by an estimated 11 million Americans in its first few days on Netflix, even boosting the company’s subscribers that quarter.
Another indicator of the film’s success is the existence of its animated sequel Highlight: Samurai Soul. Released in 2021, the film was an international production that saw American and Japanese talent working together on a samurai historical tale set in the same universe as the original.