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Highest 2 Lowest stars Denzel Washington, A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice and director Spike Lee were in attendance at the A24 and Apple film’s red carpet premiere at New York City’s Brooklyn Academy of Music this evening.

Held at Bam Strong’s Harvey Theater, the star-studded affair also featured cast members Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson and more, as well as performers who had notably collaborated with Lee decades prior via his seminal breakout Do the Right Thing, which stars Giancarlo Esposito and Rosie Perez, both of whom reunited with the filmmaker tonight.

A slate of musicians also graced the carpet, including Judy Collins, Brent Faiyaz, Chance the Rapper, Princess Nokia and Slick Rick. Other notable attendees included Sinners breakout Miles Caton, Dapper Dan, Keegan-Michael Key, This Is Us alumna Susan Kelechi Watson, Tony winner Adrienne Warren and The Sopranos‘ Edie Falco.

Hitting theaters Aug.

A Highest 2 Lowest star "didn't even know" his son was auditioning with Denzel Washington, and yes, he got the part. Directed by Spike Lee, the upcoming film is a reimagining of Akira Kurosawa's High and Low (1963) and stars Washington as a powerful music mogul who becomes the target of a ransom scheme and is forced to make an impossible moral choice.

In addition to Denzel Washington in the lead role, the cast also includes Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Asap Rocky, Ice Spice, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson, Lachanze, Aubrey Joseph, Michael Potts, Wendell Pierce, and Elijah Wright. Appearing as themselves are Eddie Palmieri, Anthony Ramos, and Rosie Perez.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Highest 2 Lowest star Jeffrey Wright shared the story of how his son, Elijah Wright, also landed a role in the movie. Originally up for another role, his son's audition tape impressed Spike Lee, leading to an unexpected audition with Washington.

The Gilded Age just keeps reaching new heights as it heads toward its Season 3 finale.

The penultimate episode drew 4.6M viewers in the three days since it debuted on HBO on Sunday, setting another series record, per Warner Bros. Discovery. This is now the fourth consecutive week that the third season has managed a new series high audience.

Ahead of Sunday’s finale, the show is apparently drawing in new viewers at a record pace. The company says that The Gilded Age is currently adding viewers at a rate nearly 50% higher than in previous seasons.

Of course, newcomers are playing catch up, so much of this viewership is actually boosting the previous seasons, too. Wbd says that Season 1 viewership was up approximately 30% last week compared to the same week leading into last season’s Episode 7.

This bodes incredibly well for the show’s fourth season, as it has already received a renewal from HBO.

The new streaming original movie is a reimagining of a Kurosawa classic.

When Spike Lee and Denzel Washington get together, magic is usually made. The pair that brought “Malcolm X” to life is reuniting for “Highest 2 Lowest,” a new streaming-original film debuting on Apple TV+ later this year. If the pairing of Lee and Washington alone wasn’t enough to get you excited for its release, we’ll give you more details about the film below.

Everything you need to know about ‘Highest 2 Lowest’

When does ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ come out?

What is ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ About?

Who stars in ‘Highest 2 Lowest’?

Is ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ based on another movie?

What are critics saying about ‘Highest 2 Lowest’?

Watch a trailer for ‘Highest 2 Lowest’

Will you be able to stream ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ for free?

7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month apple.com When does ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ come out?

“Highest 2 Lowest...

“Highest 2 Lowest” is a new action feature, directed by Spike Lee, starring Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wrught, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson and Ice Spice, releasing August 22, 2025 in theaters:

“…in this remake of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1959 feature “High and Low”, the film introduces a music mogul (Washington)…

“…targeted with a ransom plot, leaving him jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Spike Lee’s new movie, Highest 2 Lowest, is making waves as a fresh take on Akira Kurosawa’s classic 1963 film High and Low.

This neo-noir crime thriller stars Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Asap Rocky, and introduces Ice Spice in her first film role. The movie is based on the 1959 novel King’s Ransom by Ed McBain, but Lee brings a modern and American twist to the story.

Filming started in New York City in March 2024 and wrapped up by May. The movie had its world premiere out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025. It’s set to hit theaters in the United States on August 15, with streaming on Apple TV+ to follow on September 5. The trailer for Highest 2 Lowest has just been released, giving fans a first look at the intense and stylish new film.

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Acting legend Denzel Washington goes from the Highest 2 Lowest in the anticipated titular crime thriller. The upcoming A24 reimagination of a Japanese classic drops its latest trailer, with Washington front and center.

A24 released the latest Highest 2 Lowest trailer on Aug. 4, spotlighting Washington's central character, David King, a high-ranking music executive regarded as the "best ears in the business." King initially claims that "there's more to life than just making money. There's integrity, there's what you stand for." However, King's associate, Paul Christopher (Jeffrey Wright) suggests that "you gotta be a little crazy sometimes in this world to get what you want."

Things get crazy when King gets threatened by a mystery kidnapper who's taken his son and demands a hefty payday in exchange for returning him home. The kidnapper drives a hard bargain with King, warning him that "you're not God no more...I am," and that "you got blood on your hands,...

Denzel Washington’s creative relationship with director Spike Lee goes all the way back to the 1990s’ Mo’ Better Blues, which they followed up with the landmark movies Malcolm X, He Got Game, and Inside Man. After a 19-year break, they have reunited for the kidnapping thriller Highest 2 Lowest. It hits theaters August 15 and comes to Apple TV+ September 5.

Highest 2 Lowest is a loose remake of the 1963 Akira Kurosawa film High and Low, which drew inspiration from Ed McBain’s 1959 crime novel King’s Ransom. In the new incarnation,...

"You let him go, I'll make sure you set free." Apple TV & A24 have finally revealed the main official trailer for Spike Lee's latest film titled Highest 2 Lowest, a modern remake of Kurosawa's 1963 classic High and Low (aka Heaven and Hell). It first premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival a few months ago - and will open in theaters soon for a few weeks before it's streaming on Apple TV+ in September. After nearly twenty years, two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington reunites with the legendary Spike Lee for a new joint. This pulse-pounding New York City thriller follows a mastermind in music biz who gets rocked by a kidnapping. When a titan music mogul in the Big Apple is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. A reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's kidnapping thriller High and Low, now played...

Apple and A24 today unveiled the first official trailer for Highest 2 Lowest, their Kurosawa-inspired crime thriller reuniting Spike Lee and Denzel Washington for the first time since Inside Man back in 2006.

The film will hit theaters on August 15 before arriving on Apple TV+ on September 5. The story is a modern reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low, which was itself based on the novel King’s Ransom by Ed McBain. While the original thriller follows a shoe company exec who becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom, the new film, set in contemporary NYC, sees a music mogul played by Washington contend with a similar plot.

Also starring A$AP Rocky, as well as Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson, and Ice Spice, Highest 2 Lowest debuted out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Another week, another viewership high for “The Gilded Age.”

For the third week in a row, the HBO period drama has set another viewership record. The sixth episode of the show’s third season reached 4.5 million multi-platform viewers in its first three days of availability. That is up from 4 million for episode five in the same timeframe.

Per HBO, Season 3 is now outpacing Season 2 by 25% in viewers, while every episode of the third season has delivered audience growth. The Season 3 finale is scheduled to air Aug. 10. The news comes just a few days after it was announced that HBO had renewed the show for a fourth season.

The expansive ensemble cast of the series includes: Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Harry Richardson, Blake Ritson, Ben Ahlers, Ashlie Atkinson, Dylan Baker, Kate Baldwin, Victoria Clark, John Ellison Conlee, Michael Cumpsty, Kelley Curran,...

“Highest 2 Lowest” is a new action feature, directed by Spike Lee, starring Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wrught, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson and Ice Spice, releasing August 15, 2025 in theaters:

“…in this remake of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1959 feature “High and Low”, the film introduces a music mogul (Washington)…

“…targeted with a ransom plot, leaving him jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

The Gilded Age is currently airing its third season, but HBO is not waiting to ask for more of the series. HBO has renewed the period drama for a fourth season.

Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Harry Richardson, Blake Ritson, Ben Ahlers, Ashlie Atkinson, Dylan Baker, Kate Baldwin, Victoria Clark, John Ellison Conlee, Michael Cumpsty, Kelley Curran, Jordan Donica, Jessica Frances Dukes, Claybourne Elder, Amy Forsyth, Jack Gilpin, LisaGay Hamilton, Ward Horton, Simon Jones, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Ben Lamb, Nathan Lane, Andrea Martin, Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Debra Monk, Hattie Morahan, Donna Murphy, Kristine Nielsen, Paul Alexander Nolan, Kelli O’Hara, Patrick Page, Rachel Pickup, Taylor Richardson, Douglas Sills, Bobby Steggert, Erin Wilhelmi, John Douglas Thompson, Leslie Uggams, Merritt Wever, Bill Camp, and Phylicia Rashad star in the period drama set during...

Cynthia Nixon, Christine Baranski, and Louisa Jacobson in ‘The Gilded Age’ (Photo by Karolina Wojtasik/HBO)

HBO’s critically acclaimed, juicy period drama The Gilded Age has officially been renewed for season four. The announcement was made with two episodes left to air of season three.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the undeniable viewership heights The Gilded Age has achieved this season,” said Francesca Orsi, EVP, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films. “Transporting us to 1880s New York City, Julian Fellowes and the enormously talented cast and crew have created a ‘cant-miss it’ entertainment experience from week to week, and we’re delighted to continue exploring these characters’ grand ambitions for what we promise will be a thrilling fourth season.”

The series stars Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, and Taissa Farmiga. Harry Richardson, Blake Ritson, Ben Ahlers, Ashlie Atkinson,...

The Gilded Age is not over yet. HBO has renewed the Emmy-nominated drama series for a fourth season.

"We couldn’t be prouder of the undeniable viewership heights The Gilded Age has achieved this season," said Francesca Orsi, EVP, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, in a statement. "Transporting us to 1880s New York City, Julian Fellowes and the enormously talented cast and crew have created a 'can't-miss it' entertainment experience from week to week, and we're delighted to continue exploring these characters’ grand ambitions for what we promise will be a thrilling fourth season."

Added Universal Television president Erin Underhill, "Thanks to Julian and the phenomenally talented cast and crew, each season of The Gilded Age delivers stories rich in drama and history, stellar performances and stunning production value. Every moment spent in this world and with these characters only deepens our love for the show,...

The Emmy-nominated HBO Original drama series The Gilded Age has been renewed for a fourth season. From creator Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey), the series has achieved praise for its ensemble cast, costume design, and Emmy-winning production design.

The season three finale will air on Sunday, August 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m. Et/Pt), and all episodes are available to stream on HBO Max.

HBO says that total premiere-night viewing for the third season has grown for five consecutive weeks, culminating in a 20 percent growth compared to last season. Fan engagement has also climbed, with social chatter rising nearly 60 percent week over week.

In its two eligible seasons, The Gilded Age has earned seven total Emmy nominations and one Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.”

“We couldn’t be prouder of the undeniable viewership heights The Gilded Age has achieved this season,...

“The Gilded Age” has been renewed for Season 4 at HBO, Variety has learned.

The renewal news comes as the period drama has aired six of the eight episodes in its third season. The Season 3 finale is scheduled to air Aug. 10.

“We couldn’t be prouder of the undeniable viewership heights ‘The Gilded Age’ as achieved this season,” said Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming and head of HBO Drama Series and Films. “Transporting us to 1880s New York City, Julian Fellowes and the enormously talented cast and crew have created a ‘cant-miss it’ entertainment experience from week to week, and we’re delighted to continue exploring these characters’ grand ambitions for what we promise will be a thrilling fourth season.”

Per HBO, premiere-night viewing for third season has grown for five consecutive weeks. The series is up 20% percent in viewership compared to last season, and has hit series highs for two consecutive weeks.

HBO has handed a Season 4 renewal to Julian Fellowes’ period drama The Gilded Age. The pickup comes ahead of the Season 3 finale on August 10, which will wrap some storylines while setting up more drama and intrigue.

The Gilded Age, which leans into the New York theater community for its strong — and expansive — ensemble cast, has been a true word-of-mouth phenomenon. Launching on HBO’s lower-profile Monday night, it defied the odds and drew a solid viewership to earn a Season 2 renewal. Moving to HBO’s marquee Sunday night, The Gilded Age has been on an upswing since, finding a new gear with its current third season.

Premiere-night viewing has grown for five consecutive weeks, with Episode 5 drawing a new series high of 4 million U.S. cross-platform viewers within its first three days of availability. It was accompanied by a new weekly viewership high on HBO Max. Season-to-season, The Gilded Age...

All that’s gilded is gold, it turns out. HBO’s period drama “The Gilded Age” has hit another viewership high.

Per HBO, the fifth episode of the show’s third season reached 4 million viewers in Live+3 viewing. That beats the previous series high set just last week with episode four’s 3.8 million viewers. The show is outperforming its previous season by 20% thus far and reached its highest-ever weekly viewership on HBO Max, based on weekly viewing accounts

“The Gilded Age” had found love with critics since its debut, but did not start off strong in the ratings. It has slowly built its audience over its three seasons via word of mouth, with this season being the most popular yet by far.

Spoilers Ahead

In the fifth episode, the rift between George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha (Carrie Coon) grew wider as they learned their daughter, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) is struggling...

[This story contains spoilers from season three, episode five of The Gilded Age.]

Broadway actor Jordan Donica’s arrival as Dr. William Kirkland has spiced up Peggy Scott’s love life on The Gilded Age.

What started as a house call to treat his mentor’s daughter from a debilitating cold has blossomed into one of the HBO’s hit period drama’s hottest romances. Since his introduction in episode two (“What the Papers Say”), Dr. Kirkland has become a fixture. Peggy (a role Denée Benton has made a fan-favorite) and her mother Dorothy’s (Audra McDonald) visit to their cousin Athena (Jessica Frances Dukes) in Newport, Rhode Island, where his family has long maintained a home, in episode three (“Love Is Never Easy’) solidified his presence. From the moment Dr. Kirkland knew Peggy was nearby, he reached out with a letter requesting permission to “call on her.” That led to a romantic get-to-know-you stroll, parasol and all, by the...

A new behind-the-scenes video has been released for The Gilded Age, featuring interviews with cast members and Broadway alums Audra McDonald, Phylicia Rashad, Denée Benton, and Jordan Donica. These stars, along with executive producers from the show, discuss the exploration of Black elite social dynamics as presented in the series. Taking place in the 1880s, Season 3 introduces the Kirkland family, played by Rashad, Donica, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Their portrayal contrasts with the Scotts, offering a nuanced look at the Black experience during the Gilded Age. "It's important that we have the Scotts and the Kirklands engage with one another because it allows us a different portal into the Black elite," says co-executive producer Erica Armstrong...

“Highest 2 Lowest” is a new action feature, directed by Spike Lee, starring Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wrught, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson and Ice Spice, releasing August 22, 2025 in theaters:

“…in this remake of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1959 feature “High and Low”, the film introduces a music mogul (Washington)…

“…targeted with a ransom plot, leaving him jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

The glitz and glam of the 1880s had been on display for two seasons prior to the premiere of The Gilded Age Season 3. Following the pre-established patterns of ruthless high-society politics and maneuvering, the complex ingredient of romance among the elites of New York during this time period, carries into the third season. The Black elites of the time have made a splash on the show, more than we have enjoyed elsewhere, with the period drama not sidestepping the nuanced conversations that made up the society of that time, including colorism and intersectional feminism. These conversations have featured in one relationship in particular.

The Gilded AgeSeason 3, Episode 3, titled Love Is Never Easy, brings the relationship between Peggy Scott (Denée Benton) and Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica) to the fore. The direction of travel for the courtship essentially entails that both families meet. However, while the early exchanges were smooth and pleasant,...

Note: This story contains spoilers from “The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 3.”

“The Gilded Age” hard-launched a new romantic interest for Peggy Scott, bringing a whole family of baggage along with him.

Sparks flew almost immediately between Peggy (Denée Benton) and Dr. William Kirkland (Jordan Donica) after he treated her severe case of pneumonia earlier in Season 3. But a trip to the beach town of Newport in Episode 3, titled “Love Is Never Easy,” sealed the start of their courtship after the doctor invited Peggy on a walk along the cliffs.

“That was such a beautiful day, truly, because it actually does look as stunning as it does in the episode,” Benton told TheWrap of filming the idyllic first date. “To see it with us in those really vibrant costumes, and all the other Black couples and their costumes like eating grapes and sitting, it was transporting.”

“I think it was...

Exclusive: Tony Award-nominated actor John Douglas Thompson has signed with Paradigm for representation.

In television, Thompson’s work includes The Gilded Age, Mare of Easttown, For Life, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, among other notable series. In film, he is known for his searing turn as Emmett Till’s uncle in Till, as well as his work in 21 Bridges, 355, Let Them All Talk, Wolves, The Bourne Legacy, Glass Chin, Midway, and Malcolm X.

Up next, Thompson will be seen in Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest opposite Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright. The film had its world premiere out of competition at Cannes this year and will be released theatrically by A24 in August.

On Broadway, Thompson received a Tony nomination for his performance in August Wilson’s Jitney. His other credits include King Lear, the revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel, A Time to Kill, Cyrano de Bergerac,...

“The Gilded Age” has always been influenced by the work of Edith Wharton. Both the novelist’s oeuvre and the HBO drama are set among the upper echelons of New York society in the late 19th century, documenting frictions both large (the rise of a new industrial elite) and small (imperceptible breaches of etiquette).

But in its first two seasons, “The Gilded Age” heaped all its stakes onto a handful of storylines, most of them anchored by the series’ few characters of color. Creator Julian Fellowes otherwise eschewed the grand, tragic sweep of Wharton’s best-known work: the downfall of Lily Bart in “House of Mirth,” or the thwarted love of Newland Archer and Countess Olenska in “The Age of Innocence.” Instead, the show’s minimal upheaval tends to amount to a slightly rearranged status quo. In Season 2, the blue-blooded Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) lost her fortune and fell...

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The Survivors is an Australian mystery thriller crime drama miniseries created by Tony Ayres. Based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Jane Harper, the Netflix series is set in the small coastal town of Evelyn Bay, Tasmania, and it follows Kieran Elliott, who returns to his hometown after 15 years. His return dredges up a tragic past involving a deadly storm that took the lives of three young people. The Survivors stars Charlie Vickers, Yerin Ha, Robyn Malcolm, Thom Green, George Mason, Don Hany, Jessica De Gouw, Damien Garvey, Martin Sacks, and Catherine McClements. So, if you loved the thrilling drama, gripping mystery, and compelling characters in The Survivors, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Broadchurch Credit – ITV

Broadchurch is a British mystery crime drama series created by Chris Chibnall. The ITV series...

“The Gilded Age” is ushering in a new era. The third season of the beloved HBO series marks the start of Bertha’s (Carrie Coon) reign. She already has secured her status as the patron saint of the Metropolitan Opera: Can she now have the approval of the old money elites?

The Season 3 logline reads: “Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society. Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights while George risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionize the railroad industry — if it doesn’t ruin him first. Across the street, the Brook household is thrown into chaos as Agnes refuses to accept Ada’s new position as lady of the house. Peggy meets a handsome doctor from Newport whose family is less than enthusiastic about her career.

Spike Lee threw some shade at Donald Trump during the Cannes Film Festival press conference for his latest joint “Highest 2 Lowest.” When asked about if social media has jeopardized morals in America, Lee replied: “I don’t know how much we can talk about American values considering who is the president.”

He continued: “My wife said, ‘Spike, be very careful what you say!’ But here’s the thing, I don’t think we can condemn social media. People say the same thing about film or whatever. So I’m not going to demonize the form.”

Later on, when asked more directly about Trump’s proposed tariffs on foreign-made films, Lee said he “doesn’t have the answer for that” but acknowledged that “people are hurting.”

“No one’s working,” Lee said. “The guy just said he wanted to put a tariff on every film that shot… I don’t...

Rihanna made a surprise appearance at Cannes Film Festival, walking the red carpet at the Palais to support her partner A$AP Rocky at the premiere of “Highest 2 Lowest.” After Spike Lee’s latest joint debuted to a 5.5-minute standing ovation, Rihanna and Rocky posed for photos in the rain as the singer’s 2016 hit “Work” played.

The singer and businesswoman wore a sky-blue Alaïa dress to accompany Rocky, who stars alongside Denzel Washington in “Highest 2 Lowest.” Rihanna is pregnant with her and Rocky’s third child, which she revealed at the Met Gala earlier in May. The two are already parents to two sons: RZA, 3, and Riot, 20 months.

In Variety‘s Cannes cover story, Rocky discussed being in a power couple with Rihanna, who recently released a new song for the upcoming “Smurfs” movie in which she’s playing Smurfette. “We both got movies coming out the same year,...

Denzel Washington, Spike Lee and A$AP Rocky brought New York City to Cannes for the world premiere of their neo-noir crime thriller “Highest 2 Lowest,” which earned a five and a half-minute standing ovation. Rihanna also drew plenty of attention as she sat with A$AP Rocky during the screening.

Lee, who always dons a talked-about red carpet look, wore an orange and blue-striped suit and jacket and matching hat to the premiere as an homage to his beloved New York Knicks. Washington, in a more traditional suit, jacket and tie, spent extra time on the Croisette, slapping hands with fans like a professional athlete on game day.

Before the premiere, Lee presented Washington with an honorary Palme d’Or, calling the actor “my brother from another mother.”

Plenty of stars who do not appear in the film were on hand. Jason Momoa walked the carpet with his girlfriend,...

A single card credit at the end of Spike Lee’s hugely entertaining crime thriller Highest 2 Lowest reads: “Inspired by the master, Akira Kurosawa.” That tribute feels not in the least like someone paying lip service. Reinterpreting the giant of Japanese cinema’s 1963 classic, High and Low, a tense police procedural with a sharp dissection of social class structures, Lee and screenwriter Alan Fox handle the material with the utmost care and respect. At the same time, they transpose the narrative spine to an environment Lee knows intimately, allowing the director to make the film his own, with wit, high style and kinetic energy to burn.

Highest 2 Lowest is Lee’s first feature set and shot in New York since 2012’s Red Hook Summer, and that absence seems to have reignited his love for the city as a visual playground in ways that vibrate throughout.

That impression is planted instantly...

There’s enormous risk in remaking a movie like “High and Low.” Japanese master Akira Kurosawa set the bar high with his 1963 take on a kidnapping that brings an ambitious businessman to his knees — which means, even in the hands of such a visionary director as Spike Lee, you can’t help worrying how low a modern, New York-set update might go.

For three-quarters of its running time, Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest” glides along far better than skeptics might have expected (it’s night and day with his sordid U.S. adaptation of “Old Boy”). And then comes a scene for which there is no equivalent in Kurosawa’s version — a face-off between Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky as the man with the nerve to ransom his son — and the movie rockets into a sublime new stratosphere, delivering an electrifying last act that’s at once original and deeply personal.

Yet again a filmmaker has gone to the throne of Japanese giant Akira Kurosawa for inspiration. Among the lauded director’s films Hollywood has turned into English-language adaptations are Seven Samurai, which became The Magnificent Seven twice (including once with Denzel Washington); Rashomon, which became Paul Newman’s The Outrage; Ikiru, remade a few years ago as Living; Yojimbo, which led to an uncredited inspiration for A Fistful of Dollars; and 1958’s Hidden Fortress, unquestionably an inspiration for George Lucas and Star Wars.

Now chalk up another one with Spike Lee’s new take on Kurosawa’s 1963 drama High and Low, in which Toshiro Mifune played a shoemaker executive who is torn between paying the ransom to his chauffeur’s son’s kidnapper after the criminal nabbed him by mistake instead of the executive’s son, who was safe. It becomes a moral dilemma, especially as the exec really needs...

Denzel Washington got a career-defining surprise at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival when he was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or at the world premiere of his latest film, Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest.” The two-time Oscar winner was already having a historic festival, considering this is the first time Washington has attended Cannes in his 50-year acting career.

Ahead of the screening of Lee’s latest movie, Cannes festival director Thierry Fremaux introduced a montage of Washington’s films — including “Malcolm X” and “Mo Better Blues,” both directed by Lee — as well as his Oscar-winning performances in “Glory” and “Training Day.” Lee then presented the actor-director with the honorary Palme d’Or.

Lee was on stage for the special moment and handed off the Palme d’O trophy to Denzel while calling the actor “my brother from another mother.” Washington said that the honor was a complete surprise.

Directed by Lee,...

Parents often say they’d do anything for their children. Would they help them hide a body? What if the situation spirals out of control and the truth threatens to bubble to the surface? Would they remain the dutiful parent or start to see the problem for what (or who) it truly is? Today, Apple TV+ is debuting a trailer for Echo Valley, a chilling thriller directed by Michael Pearce, starring Sydney Sweeney, Julianne Moore, and Fiona Shaw.

In Echo Valley, Moore plays Kate Garrett, a woman recovering from a personal tragedy while boarding and training horses at Echo Valley Farm, twenty-two remote, Bob Ross painting-worthy acres in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In the middle of the night, Kate’s recalcitrant daughter, Claire (Sweeney), is covered in blood at her doorstep beside herself. As an unexpected guest shatters Kate’s quiet recovery, things quickly spiral out of control.

Scott Free’s Ridley Scott produces Echo Valley,...

“Highest 2 Lowest” is a new action feature, directed by Spike Lee, starring Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wrught, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson and Ice Spice, releasing August 22, 2025 in theaters:

“…in this remake of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1959 feature “High and Low”, the film introduces a music mogul (Washington)…

“…targeted with a ransom plot, leaving him jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington's fifth big-screen collaboration, Highest 2 Lowest, receives a major release update ahead of its Cannes Film Festival premiere. Fans also get a first look at A24's anticipated neo-noir thriller, a reinterpretation of a famous Japanese movie, as it nears its premiere.

A24 confirmed Highest 2 Lowest will premiere in select cinemas on Aug. 22. Following a two-week theatrical run, the film heads to Apple TV+ for its streaming debut on Sept. 5. Along with the release date confirmation, A24 unveiled the first teaser trailer for Highest 2 Lowest, featuring Washington's central character, a music mogul, where he states that "the hard times will come from the good times, the hard times will come from the success, the hard times will come from the money, and the mayhem follows." The teaser hints at much mayhem forthcoming in the film, including multiple brushes with the law,...

Over the course of sixteen years, Spike Lee and Denzel Washington made four movies together: Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Malcolm X (1992), He Got Game (1998), and Inside Man (2006). Now, after almost twenty years, Lee and Washington have finally reunited for another film: the crime thriller Highest 2 Lowest. This one is set to receive a limited theatrical release on August 22nd, then it will move over to Apple TV+ on September 5th. Those dates aren’t too far off, so today a trailer for Highest 2 Lowest has dropped online, and you can check it out in the embed above.

People notes that this film is described as being “a reinterpretation of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller High and Low,” with the setting moved to “the mean streets of modern day New York City.” Here’s the synopsis: When a titan music mogul, widely known as having the ‘best ears in the business,...

"That's the question I have you... can you handle it?" A24 has unveiled the first teaser trailer for Spike Lee's latest feature film titled Highest 2 Lowest, a modern remake of Kurosawa's 1963 classic High and Low (aka Heaven and Hell). Spike was shooting this movie in NYC last year, and now it's ready for release this summer. Highest 2 Lowest will premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival playing out-of-competition in a few weeks (full line-up here), then it'll open in theaters at the end of August. After nearly twenty years, two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington reunites with the legendary Spike Lee for a new joint. This pulse-pounding NYC thriller follows a mastermind in music biz. When a titan music mogul is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. A reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's kidnapping thriller High and Low, now played...

Spike Lee has released the first trailer for his A24 and Apple-backed crime thriller “Highest 2 Lowest” starring Denzel Washington, A$AP Rocky and more. The movie will be released in theaters August 22 and stream on Apple TV+ starting Sept. 5 after world premiering later this month at the Cannes Film Festival.

Written by Alan Fox, “Highest 2 Lowest” is loosely based on Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low,” which follows a businessman deciding whether or not to use his wealth to further his career or save a child’s life. Both “Highest 2 Lowest” and “High and Low” are reinterpretations of Ed McBain’s mystery novel “The King’s Ransom.”

“One of the best things about film school is that you get introduced to world cinema, not just Hollywood,” Lee said about the film last year at the Red Sea Film Festival. “Seeing Kurosawa’s film ‘Rashomon’ and its...

The beloved HBO series “The Gilded Age” is back for Season 3. The Emmy-nominated drama from “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes promises just as operatic of a season as its predecessors. And as ensemble star Carrie Coon is fresh off her viral turn on “The White Lotus,” it seems as though “The Gilded Age” will get an extra boost of fandom.

The Season 3 logline reads: “Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society. Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights while George risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionize the railroad industry — if it doesn’t ruin him first. Across the street, the Brook household is thrown into chaos as Agnes refuses to accept Ada’s new position as lady of the house. Peggy meets a handsome...

HBO has released the teaser for The Gilded Age season three, which will debut on Sunday, June 22, at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt. The Emmy-nominated drama series from creator Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) will premiere its eight-episode third season on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.

The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic and social change, when empires were built, but no victory came without sacrifice. Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened, and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society.

Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights while George risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionize the railroad industry — if it doesn’t ruin him first. Across the street, the Brook household is thrown into chaos as Agnes refuses to accept Ada’s new position as lady of the house.

HBO has set the premiere date for “The Gilded Age” Season 3, with the premium cabler also unveiling the first teaser for the period drama.

Season 3 of “The Gilded Age” will officially debut on June 22 at 9 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO and streaming on Max. In the teaser, Mrs. Russell (Carrie Coon) appears to tell her daughter, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga), that “Marriage is a real opportunity.” Fans of the show will recall that Season 2 ended with Mrs. Russell promising her daughter’s hand in marriage to the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb), but it seems that Gladys is none too happy about the betrothal.

Watch the full teaser below.

The official description for Season 3 states:

“Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society. Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family...

The Russells will continue their climb in New York City society this summer: the HBO Original drama series The Gilded Age will return this June to the premium channel.

The third season of the drama from Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) will feature eight episodes. It will air on HBO and stream on Max.

Here’s the season 3 logline: “The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic and social change, when empires were built, but no victory came without sacrifice. Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society. Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights while George risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionize the railroad industry — if it doesn’t ruin him first. Across the street, the Brook household is thrown into chaos as...

Morgan Spector, Carrie Coon, and Harry Richardson in ‘The Gilded Age’ season 3 (Photograph by Karolina Wojtasik/HBO)

Season three of HBO’s critically acclaimed period drama The Gilded Age will premiere this June. The series debuted in January 2022, and season two arrived in October 2023. HBO announced the show’s renewal for a third season just days after season two’s finale aired.

HBO’s June premiere date announcement was accompanied by the first batch of photos from the new season.

Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, and Denée Benton star in season three. The cast also includes Taissa Farmiga, Harry Richardson, Blake Ritson, Ben Ahlers, Ashlie Atkinson, Dylan Baker, Kate Baldwin, Victoria Clark, John Ellison Conlee, and Michael Cumpsty.

Kelley Curran, Jordan Donica, Jessica Frances Dukes, Claybourne Elder, Amy Forsyth, Jack Gilpin, LisaGay Hamilton, Ward Horton, Simon Jones, and Celia Keenan-Bolger also star.

Additional cast members include Ben Lamb,...

After an 18-month break, get ready to give a warm welcome back to Bertha, Marian, Agnes, Ada, and the rest of The Gilded Age gang. Season 3 will premiere the first of eight episodes in June, HBO announced today, six months after Season 2 wrapped on Dec. 17, 2023. Although a specific launch day wasn't announced, a June premiere date for the new season means it won't be eligible for the current 2025 Emmys cycle, whose cutoff is May 31. Instead, Gilded Age Season 3 will compete at the 2026 Emmy Awards.

Returning cast members for the 1880s period piece that pits "new money" New Yorkers against the established wealthy, include Carrie Coon (hot off her White Lotus Emmy buzz) as Bertha Russell, Christine Baranski as Agnes van Rhijn, Cynthia Nixon as Ada Forte, Morgan Spector as George Russell, Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook, Denée Benton as Peggy Scott, Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell, Harry Richardson as Larry Russell,...

The Gilded Age, the HBO Original drama series from creator Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey), will return for its eight-episode third season this June on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.

The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic and social change, when empires were built, but no victory came without sacrifice. Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened, and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society.

In the third season, Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights while George risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionize the railroad industry — if it doesn’t ruin him first. Across the street, the Brook household is thrown into chaos as Agnes refuses to accept Ada’s new position as lady of the house.

Peggy meets a handsome doctor from Newport whose...

You probably know that the lineup for this year’s Cannes Film Festvial has been revealed and that we will get some very exciting premieres this year, including but not limited to Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague, and Ari Aster’s Eddington.

Among the films expected to make a debut in Cannes was Spike Lee’s new flick, Highest 2 Lowest, which will star Denzel Washington. But, the movie was surprisingly not present on the list which sparked some debate.

Now, Spike Lee himself has decided to clarify things and he confirmed, via social media, whether his new movie is actually going to be shown in Cannes or not. Keep reading to find out more!

Related: Denzel Washington Shares That Ryan Coogler Is Writing a Role for Him in ‘Black Panther’ 3

Highest 2 Lowest is a crime drama film that will, alongside Washington, star Ilfenesh Hadera,...

Since its release on March 13, 2025, Long Bright River has been one of the most popular shows Peacock. Based on the book of the same name by Liz Moore, Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Amanda Seyfried stars as police officer Mickey Fitzpatrick, who patrols her hometown neighborhood in Philadelphia. Suddenly, she finds herself unraveling a mystery.

Not only does she look out for the young female sex workers in her neighborhood, but she also keeps an eye on her estranged sister Kacey. As more and more of the women turn up dead under suspicious circumstances, she worries when she can't locate Kacey. As Mickey pieces the puzzle together, it's a thrilling yet heartbreaking ride until the final reveal.

Because Long Bright River has been designated as a limited series, there's unlikely to be a season 2. But that doesn't mean there aren't more gripping mystery and thriller series out there...