A new movie produced byDenzel Washingtonis performing well on Rotten Tomatoes. Washington is an actor who had his breakthrough role in the 1980s medical dramaSt. Elsewhereand went on to achieve great critical and commercial success. This includes being nominated for 10 Oscars (winning two, for his performances inGloryandTraining Day) and having his movies collectively gross more than $4.57 billion at the worldwide box office.
Over the years,Denzel Washington moviesthat have made huge splashes include theEqualizertrilogy, which has collectively grossed $574.3 million, and 2016’sFences, which was nominated for four Oscars, winning one.He also directedFences, with the August Wilson adaptation marking his third of four directorial features so far. He is also a producer, primarily on his own movies, though he has also produced movies in which he didn’t star, like 2020’sMa Rainey’s Black Bottom, which is likewise an August Wilson adaptation.
The Piano Lesson Has Earned A Solid Rotten Tomatoes Score
The Movie Involves Multiple Members Of The Washington Family
The Piano Lessonhas debuted on Rotten Tomatoes. The upcoming Netflix movie, which was produced by Denzel Washington, was helmed by his son Malcolm Washington in his feature-length directorial debut and stars his other son,TenetstarJohn David Washington. It isan adaptation of the 1987 August Wilson play of the same nameand follows the lives of the Charles family in 1936 Pittsburgh and their ties to a piano that is a family heirloom. The cast also includes Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler, and Corey Hawkins.
The Piano Playeris one of ten plays in August Wilson’sPittsburgh Cycle, each of which is set in a different decade in the 20th century.
Rotten Tomatoeshas now aggregated 70 different critics' reviews forThe Piano Lesson. The overwhelming positivity of these reviews hasearned the movie a solidly Fresh 90% scoreat the time of writing. While the score could fluctuate as more reviews are added, it seems highly likely that the movie will soon be Certified Fresh by the platform, given how many reviews have already been gathered and the fact that their collective tone is so glowing.
What This Means For The Piano Lesson
This Rotten Tomatoes Score Could Help The Movie
The fact thatThe Piano Lessonreviewshave earned it such a strong score could help it become a major contender in the 2025 awards season. While it has already garnered some Oscar buzz, critical and commercial success can help movies become frontrunners when it comes time for nominations, andit has ranked highly, even among other top contenders, includingAnora(97%),Conclave(92%),Gladiator II(75%), andEmilia Pérez(79%),Wicked(92%),Blitz(81%), andA Real Pain(96%).
The Piano Lesson
Cast
In The Piano Lesson, a brother and sister clash over selling a family heirloom piano—he sees it as a path to wealth, while she views it as a vital link to their heritage. Their uncle tries to mediate, but the conflict reveals deep truths about identity, legacy, and the past.
