Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest Premieres New York City Featuring Denzel Washington, ASAP Rocky

Spike Lee's latest film, "Highest 2 Lowest," is a modern reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s classic "High and Low," set in New York City and starring Denzel Washington as David King, a music mogul facing a moral crisis when a kidnapping mistakenly targets the son of his driver. The film, which marks the fifth collaboration between Washington and Lee, blends urban suspense with emotional depth and is described as a love letter to New York, featuring cinematography by Matthew Libatique and a score by Howard Drossin. The plot centers on the tension surrounding a $17.5 million ransom demand, forcing David to balance ambition, loyalty, and family legacy. The premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music saw stars like A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice, Jeffrey Wright, and others, with notable fashion highlights including Rocky’s Celine suit and Spike Lee’s homage to Kurosawa. Released by A24, the movie will hit theaters on August 15 before streaming on Apple TV+ on September 5. Critics praise Washington’s nuanced performance and Lee’s distinctive direction, including a standout third-act rap battle sequence.