Hi-Five: reviews

What the critics say average 7.5 from 14 outlets

• 9.5 Blood BrothersJosh Parmer Yet, Kang injects new life into a worn out genre and gives it the oomph it has been sorely lacking for many years now (...) This is easily one of the best films to come out so far in 2025. Read
• 9.1 InSession FilmMaxance Vincent Not only is its creativity unmatched in the landscape of superhero entertainment, but it contains enough interesting characters that it truly doesn’t matter if some of the narrative developments Hyeong-cheol takes aren’t up to snuff. Read
• 9.0 The Seoul StoryAmber Hi-Five combines thoughtful storytelling, strong performances, and striking visuals to deliver a superhero film that is both entertaining and meaningful. Read
• 8.5 Asian Movie PulseRhythm Zaveri Kang Hyeong-cheol finally manages to bring the superhero genre of age in South Korean cinema. The witty, wild and very entertaining “Hi-Five” is super-fresh and super-fun, the perfect summer blockbuster. Read
• 8.5 ScreenAnarchyAndrew Mack Hi-Five is bloody hilarious. So funny. The script is chock-full of joke after joke after joke. When you are not thrilled by the action set pieces and the superhero visuals, you are laughing your face off. Read
• 8.0 Next Best PictureSara Clements It’s loud, silly, heartfelt, and at a time when Hollywood superhero fatigue is at an all-time high, this South Korean gem bursts through the noise with style and sincerity. Read
• 8.0 What I Watched TonightMatt Hudson Ultimately, Hi-Five is a strange little gem - endearingly goofy, emotionally grounded, and clearly made with affection for its oddball characters (...) It doesn’t take itself seriously for a second, and that’s its superpower. Read
• 8.0 Elements of MadnessDouglas Davidson Offering a blend of martial arts action, light comedy, and dark thrills whose wild fluctuations in tone manage to hold steady to deliver an engaging and affecting adventure Read
• 7.5 Hammer to NailNathan Sartain Unashamedly silly, infectiously bright, and an all-round good time, overall Hi-Five brings escapist fun in superhero film form, anchored by its strong ensemble of personalities. Not everything lands flawlessly, but director Kang Hyeong-cheol’s dedication to vibrant, crowd-pleasing gratification is commendable Read
• 7.0 Screen DailyElizabeth Kerr The mix of satirical comedy, action and sentimentalism is not always comfortable, and prevents the film from truly breaking the mould. Yet its bubblegum aesthetic, unchallenging narrative and strong cast, which includes Burning and The Match star Yoo Ah-in, make it ideal summer fare. Read
• 7.0 The SunBreakMorgen Schuler I wanted to give it a higher rating because this is exactly the kind of film we need right now. Silly, low-stakes, and really fun, but I had a hard time really connecting with many of the characters. Read
• 6.0 AsianMovieWebManfred Selzer Despite a rather mediocre finale, which makes it clear that the film's true strength lies in its quieter, funnier moments, the epilogue actually managed to create a sense of camaraderie and underscore the birth of a superhero team that leaves you wanting for more. Read
• 4.5 NYC Movie GuruAvi Offer Kang Hyeong-cheol has made a mildly engaging and amusing, but shallow, unimaginative and often silly superhero satire that's not funny, clever or thrilling enough. Read
• 4.0 South China Morning PostJames Marsh Hi-Five’s main problem is that it struggles to harness any real power from its promising premise. Read