Spike Lee and Denzel Washington Reunite in “Highest 2 Lowest” Trailer

Highest 2 Lowest is a modern retelling of Kurosawa’s High and Low.

Spike Lee’s latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, reimagines Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime classic High and Low for modern-day New York City. Set in a world of power, privilege, and high-stakes music industry deals, the film centers on a legendary mogul caught in a moral crisis when a ransom scheme forces him to make an unthinkable choice.

The thriller stars Denzel Washington as the industry icon with the “best ears in the business,” whose success makes him the perfect target. As the lines between right and wrong blur, his character is drawn into a psychological battle that could cost him everything.

A Powerhouse Cast with New York Grit

Washington leads a standout ensemble that includes Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and A$AP Rocky, bringing dramatic weight and raw energy to the narrative. The streets of NYC are more than a backdrop—they’re a character in themselves, reflecting the tension and class divides that fuel the story.

Apple Original Films produces the film, which opens in theaters on August 15, with a streaming debut set for September 5 on Apple TV+.

Lee and Washington’s Fifth Collaboration

Highest 2 Lowest marks the fifth collaboration between director Spike Lee and actor Denzel Washington. Their celebrated creative partnership began in 1990 with Mo’ Better Blues and continued with landmark films like Malcolm X (1992), He Got Game (1998), and the acclaimed Inside Man (2006).

This new entry adds another layer to their decades-long synergy—combining Lee’s socially conscious storytelling with Washington’s commanding on-screen presence.

A Timely Tale of Power, Class, and Choice

By adapting Kurosawa’s tale of moral sacrifice and class tension for today’s world, Highest 2 Lowest presents a sharp and resonant take on systemic inequality, personal responsibility, and the human cost of ambition. It’s part crime thriller, part character study—and wholly Spike Lee.

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