Spike Lee-Denzel Washington Crime Thriller Highest 2 Lowest Premieres August 15

Highest 2 Lowest is a modern remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film High and Low, directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington as a powerful music mogul caught in a moral dilemma after a kidnapping targets his chauffeur's child instead of his own. The film, which premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, features a compelling soundtrack including songs by A$AP Rocky and Ice Spice, who also appear in prominent roles. Despite the reunion of Lee and Washington, their first collaboration since 2006, the movie has received mixed reviews, with some critics calling it sloppy and a betrayal of the original's legacy. The story explores themes of race, class, power, and redemption in contemporary New York City, with a supporting cast including Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and Dean Winters. Highest 2 Lowest will be released in theaters on August 15 and will stream on Apple TV+ starting September 5, distributed by A24 and Apple Original Films. This film may be the final collaboration between Lee and Washington, marking an end to a prolific partnership in cinema.