DMX received praise for his role as King David. Ebert called it "a fearless performance", with Savlov saying that he "admittedly does badass like a pro". Ruthe Stein of the "San Francisco Chronicle" wrote that: "DMX has all the charisma you'd expect of a music star, and he uses it to portray King David as larger than life." Mitchell wrote about DMX's performance: "To say that King David is the best role he's ever had is an understatement. Until now, he never seemed to feel the need to inhabit a movie in this way. He's committed himself to the displays of King David's cagey brutality, chalking up every slight as an act to be avenged."