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Spike Lee made headlines at Cannes this year when premiering his new film Highest 2 Lowest and announcing that it would likely be his last team-up with frequent collaborator Denzel Washington.

“I think this is it — five,” Lee told reporters of his and Washington’s number of films together. “He’s been talking about retirement, even though he’s just done another deal. Five films together, they stand up.”

The pair have united for Inside Man, Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game and now Highest 2 Lowest, but at the new film’s New York premiere on Monday, Lee walked back those previous comments and kept the door open for more projects with Washington.

“I said that before, but I got my mind right,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m open to work with Denzel Washington and this not be the last film of the dynamic duo,...

It’s been almost two decades since Spike Lee and Denzel Washington last joined forces with Inside Man, an instant classic of the heist genre. Their fifth and latest outing, Highest 2 Lowest, finds them paying tribute to another director-actor pairing—that of Kurosawa Akira and Mifune Toshiro, whose work together in the 1950s and ’60s has inspired several remakes and homages over the years, from A Fistful of Dollars to Star Wars.

Highest 2 Lowest draws from Kurosawa’s High and Low (titled Heaven and Hell in the original Japanese), itself an adaptation of a pulp novel by Ed McBain published a few years earlier. Working from a script by Alan Fox, Lee does for Kurosawa’s masterpiece what Kurosawa had done for several plays by William Shakespeare, translating the essentials of plot and character to a new time period and cultural context. Anyone familiar with the original—a...

Denzel Washington is dressing down in jeans for his latest red carpet appearance!

The Oscar-winning actor went casual for the premiere of his new Apple TV+ movie Highest 2 Lowest on Monday (August 11) at BAMcafe in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Denzel was joined at the event by co-stars A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Dean Winters, Lachanze, Elijah Wright, and Rosie Perez, among others.

Director Spike Lee also stepped out for the event. The movie hits theaters on August 15 ahead of a streaming debut on September 5. Watch the trailer now!

Here’s the synopsis: “When a titan music mogul (Washington), widely known as having the ‘best ears in the business’, is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma.”

Fyi: Rocky is wearing Celine.

Browse through the gallery for more photos…...

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.

Mid August brings a lively mix of brand new stories, special events, and a couple of beloved returns to the big screen. You can chase monster mayhem, drift into music history, or lean into heartfelt drama and sharp laughs without leaving the cool of the auditorium.

Here is the full slate landing on August 14, August 15, and August 17, 2025, with cast highlights, runtimes, and how wide each one goes. Scan the lineup, circle a favorite, and make your plan before the good seats vanish.

‘Shin Godzilla’ (2016) Toho Pictures

The towering kaiju roars back into theaters as a wide rerelease on August 14, 2025 from Gkids. Starring Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara, and Ren Ôsugi, this action drama horror sci fi entry plays like a fresh shock on a huge screen.

At two hours, it shifts from dry humor to city shaking spectacle with a clean sense of scale. If you want a crowd pleaser with brains and brawn,...

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.

Spike Lee’s new film Highest 2 Lowest released its first trailer Monday, revealing Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky in a tense ransom drama set inside New York’s music industry and hitting theaters August 15 before streaming on Apple TV+ September 5. The project reunites Washington and Lee for the first time since 2006’s Inside Man and reimagines Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 thriller High and Low through a hip-hop lens, with A24 and Apple Original Films co-financing.

Washington portrays David King, a legendary label chief whose son is abducted; Rocky’s Yung Felon demands a precisely calculated $17.5 million payoff, a figure teased in the trailer’s opening monologue. Early footage shows Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice, and Ilfenesh Hadera orbiting King’s recording-studio empire, while commentators point to bold streetwear, gold headphones, and diamond watches that double as symbols of status and threat.

Apple’s synopsis lists a 133-minute running time and...

Denzel Washington’s music mogul battles through a ransom situation in the official trailer for Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest.

The preview features short snippets from the film, combined with animated visuals and live-action shots of the Brooklyn Bridge. Washington and co-star Ilfenesh Hadera are shown talking on the phone with the kidnapper, while police remain on standby behind the couple.

Viewers hear the kidnapper make his demands, asking for $17.5 million in a black backpack and telling Washington’s David to take the four subway train to Manhattan, in a call in which he proclaims to David, “You’re not God no more … I am!”

Viewers also get glimpses of A$AP Rocky’s character in the preview.

Throughout the trailer, David’s driver and friend, played by Jeffrey Wright, provides him with support on multiple occasions. “I think you got to be a little crazy sometimes in this...

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...

Starring Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky, Spike Lee’s highly anticipated thriller Highest 2 Lowest is gearing up for both its theatrical and streaming release. The film, which is set to hit the theatres on August 15, 2025, will be made available for streaming on Apple TV+ starting from September 5, 2025.

Highest 2 Lowest had its grand premiere at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival, earning a positive response from critics, having an 89% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of its release. A reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, Lee’s neo-noir thriller is set in modern-day New York City, focusing on a powerful music executive caught up in a high-stakes ransom plot.

Highest 2 Lowest Drops Thrilling New Trailer Denzel Washington in Highest 2 Lowest | Credit: A24

In a very interesting move, Highest 2 Lowest released its first official trailer merely days before the film hits theatres. However, the trailer, which...

Apple TV+ and A24 have debuted the first trailer for Spike Lee‘s new movie!

Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and A$AP Rocky star in the 68-year-old Oscar-winning filmmaker’s crime thriller movie Highest 2 Lowest.

Here’s the synopsis: “When a titan music mogul (Washington), widely known as having the ‘best ears in the business’, is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. Brothers Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the 5th in their long working relationship for a reinterpretation of the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low, now played out on the mean streets of modern day New York City.”

Keep reading to find out more…Back in May, Rocky had the support of partner Rihanna, who is currently pregnant with their third child, at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival premiere of the new movie.

When a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington), widely known as having the “best ears in the business”, is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. Brothers Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the 5th in their long working relationship for a reinterpretation of the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low, now played out on the mean streets of modern day New York City.

In his Cannes Film Festival review, RogerEbert‘s Robert Daniels says, “Lee isn’t setting out to copy what was great before. He is using the past as a starting point to launch into what may be the final phase of his career. He is wielding a plethora of inspirations—musical, cinematic, and historical—to reunite with an old friend. He is making a Spike Lee joint. And it’s exceptional.”

Starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright,...

The Payback by James Brown starts playing as soon as you click play on Denzel Washington‘s Highest 2 Lowest trailer. The foreboding song works perfectly with the story of the upcoming A24 movie. But that isn’t the only song featured in this magnum opus of a movie.

The title song of the movie is performed and written by Aiyana-Lee, which is featured in the second half of the trailer, and it perfectly matches the setting of the movie’s tone and atmosphere. The movie also features songs from A$AP Rocky, alongside Ice Spice in a prominent role. Check out the trailer for Highest 2 Lowest below:

Denzel Washington dons the role of King with A$AP Rocky portraying the role of Yung Felon, who would do anything for the Washington mogul to notice him, including but not limited to kidnapping his son and holding him for ransom. That’s the plot of the movie.

“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 have thrown the internet into a frenzy with the release of the official trailer for their new film, Highest 2 Lowest. This isn’t just another crime thriller—it’s a modern remix of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, now set in the pulse-pounding world of New York’s music industry. If you’re a fan of either Lee or Washington, buckle up: the duo’s fifth collaboration looks electric, urgent, and genuinely original.

Denzel Brings the Heat, Lee Brings the Style

Right from the first beat, the Highest 2 Lowest trailer refuses to quit. Denzel Washington stars as David, a legendary music mogul whose world comes crashing down when his son Trey is kidnapped. The trailer wastes no time diving into the chaos—cutting from slick boardroom deals and studio sessions to desperate phone calls with a faceless kidnapper. “I know what it is...

A24 has dropped the first full trailer for ‘Highest to Lowest,’ a gripping modern reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 masterwork High and Low, helmed by none other than Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee.

Part crime thriller, part social commentary, the film sees Lee fuse his signature style of political urgency and kinetic energy with the bones of Kurosawa’s psychological noir. The result? A sleek, pressure-cooker drama set against the brutal backdrop of American class division and corporate power.

Leading the powerhouse ensemble is Denzel Washington, reuniting with Lee after their acclaimed collaborations on ‘Malcolm X,’ ‘He Got Game,’ and ‘Inside Man.’ Washington steps into the role originally played by Toshiro Mifune — here reimagined as a high-profile tech executive whose world unravels when a kidnapper mistakes the identity of a child in his care. But unlike the original film, Lee’s take pivots not just on moral dilemma, but on how wealth,...

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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Spike Lee’s new film Highest 2 Lowest is making waves with its recently released trailer, giving audiences their first real look at this stylish neo-noir crime thriller.

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The movie stars Denzel Washington and is a fresh take on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low. This American version brings the story into today’s world, exploring crime, loyalty, and power in a gripping new way.

Highest 2 Lowest features a strong cast alongside Washington, including Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Asap Rocky, and Ice Spice, who makes her film debut here. The film’s story centers around David King, played by Washington, and the tense drama that unfolds when a kidnapping turns his world upside down.

The cast also includes familiar faces like Dean Winters and Wendell Pierce, with appearances by Eddie Palmieri, Anthony Ramos, and Rosie Perez as themselves.

Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Spike Lee mark their fifth collaboration with A24’s Highest 2 Lowest. A reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, the crime thriller’s official trailer sets up a battle between Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky.

The film also stars Oscar nominee Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction) and Ilfenesh Hadera (Godfather of Harlem).

“When a titan music mogul (Washington), widely known as having the ‘best ears in the business,’ is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma,” reads A24’s synopsis.

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee’s successful collaboration began with Mo’ Better Blues in 1990. 1992’s Malcolm X came next, followed by He Got Game in 1998 and 2006’s Inside Man. Their fifth collaboration will open in theaters on August 15, 2025, followed by a streaming debut on Apple TV+ on September 5.

Alan Fox wrote the screenplay and Todd Black...

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...

Spike Lee estrenó en Cannes esta relectura contemporánea. © A24

A24 ha publicado el primer tráiler y póster de Highest 2 Lowest, la nueva película de Spike Lee, que reinterpreta el mítico thriller policíaco de 1963 High and Low, del cineasta Akira Kurosawa, ahora trasladado a las oscuras calles de la Nueva York contemporánea.

En Highest 2 Lowest, un magnate de la música (Washington), conocido por tener «los mejores oídos del negocio», se ve atrapado en un plan de rescate que pronto lo coloca en un dilema moral de vida o muerte.

La película, que tuvo su estreno mundial en el Festival de Cannes, está protagonizada por Denzel Washington (Gladiator II), Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction), Ilfenesh Hadera (Billions) y el rapero A$AP Rocky.

Te Puede Interesar ¡Wow! Denzel Washington, Robert Pattinson y Daisy Edgar-Jones protagonizarán la película ‘Here Comes the Flood’.

No es esta una colaboración cualquiera: Highest 2 Lowest marca la quinta...

It has been nearly 20 years since Spike Lee and Denzel Washington worked together on a feature. But for their fifth outing, they are going high and low, reteaming for the first time since 2006’s Inside Man for Highest 2 Lowest, the trailer of which has officially dropped ahead of the movie’s August 15th debut.

Here is the official plot of Highest 2 Lowest, courtesy of A24: “When a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington), widely known as having the “best ears in the business”, is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. Brothers Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the 5th in their long working relationship for a reinterpretation of the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low, now played out on the mean streets of modern day New York City.” The movie runs 134 minutes, slightly shorter than Kurosawa’s film.

The full trailer for Spike Lee’s A24 crime thriller Highest 2 Lowest, starring Denzel Washington, has arrived ahead of its theatrical release on August 15th and Apple TV+ premiere on September 5th.

Highest 2 Lowest is Lee’s adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low, shifting its setting to New York City, with Washington’s character portrayed as a music tycoon rather than a businessman buying out a shoe company.

“When a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington), widely known as having the ‘best ears in the business,’ is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma,” reads the official logline. “Brothers Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the 5th in their long working relationship for a reinterpretation of the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low, now played out on the mean streets of modern day New York City.

On Monday, Apple Original Films and A24 released the official trailer for Highest 2 Lowest, the upcoming crime thriller directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington. The film has already sparked awards buzz following its debut at the Cannes Film Festival and marks the fifth collaboration between Washington and Lee—their first in nearly two decades.

Who’S In The Cast

Highest 2 Lowest stars two-time Oscar winner Washington as a powerful New York music mogul whose son, played by Aubrey Joseph, is kidnapped and held for ransom. “Somebody’s got our son,” Washington’s character, David King, says in the trailer. The cast also includes Ilfenesh Hadera as Lomg’s wife, as well as Jeffrey Wright and A$AP Rocky, who not only appears in the film but also contributes new original music to the soundtrack.

The Backstory

Inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low, the film is...

The latest trailer has been revealed for Highest 2 Lowest. The thriller movie is a modern-day remake of the Akira Kurosawa classicHigh and Low. It takes the Japan-set story from 1963 and transports it to the streets of New York City, following the story of a music mogul caught in a ransom plot.

The movie is directed by Spike Lee and features Denzel Washington in the lead role, marking the pair's fifth screen collaboration. Joining Washington is a cast that includes Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky, Ilfenesh Hadera, Ice Spice, and Aubrey Joseph. It is set for theatrical release on August 15 before hitting Apple TV+ on September 5.

Now, A24 has released the latest trailer for Highest 2 Lowest. The trailer begins by showing an interaction between Wright and Washington's characters, Paul and David, where Paul notes that he needs "theme music." Then, the scene shifts to show David at work in his music job.

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.

Since 1990, Denzel Washington and Spike Lee have collaborated on several highly-praised, sometimes controversial movies, and now, they are back with their fifth movie, Highest 2 Lowest. The movie is a remake of a classic Akira Kurosawa movie, High and Low, which means it comes with a reputation to uphold and a legacy to honor. Washington stars in the movie as a media mogul caught up in a ransom plot. The full synopsis for the movie reads:

“When a titan music mogul (Washington), widely known as having the "best ears in the business", is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. Brothers Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the 5th in their long working relationship for a reinterpretation of the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's crime thriller High and Low, now played out on the mean streets of modern day New York City.”

After...

Apple Original Films and A24 have just dropped the trailer for the latest Spike Lee joint, Highest 2 Lowest. The highly anticipated thriller marks the fifth collaboration between Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Lee, and offers a fresh, vibrant reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’sHigh and Low — now set in the bold, brash world of the New York music industry. Premiering in theaters August 22, with a streaming debut on Apple TV+ September 5, Highest 2 Lowest follows Washington as David King, a legendary music mogul with the “best ears in the business.” When his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped in a plot intended to target him, King is forced into a spiraling moral dilemma that puts his values, his empire, and his very identity on the line.

The trailer — also showcasing original music from A$AP Rocky — offers the first true look at what Lee has described as a “morally supercharged caper with rhythm.

Spike Lee’s first narrative feature in five years is Highest 2 Lowest, his reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low that marks a reteam with Denzel Washington after Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game, and Inside Man.

Also starring Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and A$AP Rocky, the film premiered at Cannes a few months ago and is now getting a summer theatrical release beginning August 15 before dropping on Apple TV+ on September 5. Ahead of the opening, the full trailer has now arrived.

Here’s the synopsis: “When a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington), widely known as having the ‘best ears in the business,’ is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. Brothers Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the 5th in their long working relationship for a reinterpretation of the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low,...

Denzel Washington has had a decades-long career, and made some iconic works during this time. His career kicked off back in the late 1970s, when he played a number of smaller roles. He then rose to greater prominence around a decade later when he was nominated for his first Oscar for Cry Freedom.

Washington then won an Oscar in 1990 for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Glory. It was from there that he started accepting more and more interesting roles, many of which got him award recognition.

The same year he won his Oscar marked his first collaboration with director Spike Lee. Lee had already gained notoriety for directing Do the Right Thing, and then went on to release the music drama Mo' Better Blues. The pair developed a strong professional relationship, and most iconically collaborated on Malcolm X.

Despite rumors of his retirement circling last year, Washington is...

Spike Lee’s stop on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon has reignited hype for Highest 2 Lowest, the director’s neo-noir remake of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low. During the July 31 interview Lee declared that A$AP Rocky “goes toe-to-toe” with two-time Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and “never flinches,” a remark that quickly spread across social feeds and industry wires. The film arrives in U.S. cinemas on August 22 via A24 and lands on Apple TV+ just two weeks later on September 5, a release pattern analysts call a key test of the studio-streamer partnership.

Lee said internet memes comparing the Harlem rapper to a young Washington helped inspire the casting, adding that the resemblance underscores the father-son tension driving the story. Rocky plays Yung Felony, an ambitious lyricist, opposite Washington’s record-label titan, Stackin Hits CEO Cyrus King, in a Manhattan ransom plot lifted from Ed McBain’s novel King’s Ransom.

“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…...

Spike Lee’s new film Highest 2 Lowest is generating a lot of buzz as it gets ready for release in a few short weeks.

This American neo-noir crime thriller is a fresh take on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low, which itself was loosely based on the 1959 novel King’s Ransom by Ed McBain. The movie stars Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Asap Rocky, and introduces Ice Spice in her first film role.

Filming started in New York City in March 2024 and finished in May of the same year. The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025, where it was shown out of competition.

Fans can catch it in U.S. theaters starting August 22, with streaming on Apple TV+ set for September 5, according to information from A24 and festival announcements.

The story is a modern update of High and Low. Denzel Washington plays David King,...

Spike Lee’s new film Highest 2 Lowest is making waves ahead of its release, and now fans have a fresh look thanks to the recently revealed poster. This 2025 American neo-noir crime thriller is a modern take on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low, itself inspired by the 1959 novel King’s Ransom by Ed McBain.

The movie stars Denzel Washington as David King, alongside Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Asap Rocky, and Ice Spice, who is making her film debut. Spike Lee directs from a screenplay by William Alan Fox, with the story set in present-day New York City.

Via Apple TV+

Filming started in March 2024 and wrapped up by May, with cinematography by Matthew Libatique. The movie had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025, where it screened out of competition.

Fans won’t have to wait long to see it in theaters either, as Highest 2 Lowest hits U.

Veteran Broadway director Jack O’Brien and newcomer screenwriter Alan Fox (Spike Lee’s upcoming Highest 2 Lowest) are teaming up to cohost a weekly podcast of conversations that blend mentorship, creative reflection, and personal storytelling.

Notes With Jack, launching July 16, is produced by Jason Michael Berman under his A/Vantage Pictures banner. Highest 2 Lowest, A/Vantage’s debut feature opening August 15 is a contemporary reimagining of Kurosawa’s High and Low, stars Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, and Ilfenesh Hadera.

Each weekly podcast episode begins with a moment from O’Brien’s extraordinary five-decade career before diving into real-time dialogue between the two artists “as they navigate work, friendship, failure, and legacy.” Fifteen episodes have already been recorded and include three-time-Tony winner O’Brien’s behind-the-scenes tales from his recent productions of Ghosts at Lincoln Center and Shucked for London’s...

“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 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (Mvaaf) has announced the opening lineup for its 23rd annual celebration, providing a platform for Black and brown filmmakers, taking place Aug. 1-9, 2025.

Kicking off the festivities on Aug. 1 will be a screening of the sports documentary Unraveling George. Directed by Mike Tollin and narrated by Marlon Wayans, who portrayed George Raveling in 2023’s Air, the film chronicles the notable journey of the Hall of Fame basketball coach known for guiding the careers of several all-star players, including Michael Jordan. A Color of Conversation will immediately follow the screening.

That evening, The Dutchman — starring André Holland, Kate Mara, Aldis Hodge, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Zazie Beetz — will be presented. The thriller about a successful Black man who finds himself in a psychological game of cat and mouse with a mysterious white woman is based on the 1964 Obie Award-winning play by Amiri Baraka...

Before Denzel Washington became the Hollywood mainstay he is today with The Equalizer franchise, the Oscar-winning Training Day, and plenty of other award-nominated roles, he made his first real mark on the big screen with A Soldier's Story in 1984. Directed by Norman Jewison, the film is a murder mystery set against the backdrop of World War II and featuring the star as a private under the command of the victim, Major Sergeant Vernon Waters (Adolph Caesar). It marked only Washington's second theatrical film role and earned him some early recognition that would help pave the way to bigger spotlights and accolades aplenty. For fans wanting to dive into his early filmography, the title is now coming to Paramount+ on July 1.

A Soldier's Story was written by Charles Fuller, who created it for the theater under the name A Soldier's Play. Washington, like many of his co-stars, was part of...

Spoiler Alert: This story contains spoilers for the Season 4 finale of “Godfather of Harlem,” now streaming on MGM+.

In the Season 4 finale of “Godfather of Harlem,” gangster Elsworth “Bumpy” Johnson (Forest Whitaker) finds himself right back where he started, partnering with the Italian mob to run heroin and cocaine through the streets of Harlem. Throughout Season 4, Bumpy attempts to become a legitimate businessman to honor the wishes of his late friend, activist Malcolm X (Jason Alan Carvel). Unfortunately, the numbers runner and crime boss learns the hard way that you cannot be half a gangster.

It’s 1966, and Harlem is changing rapidly. Without his drug business, Bumpy no longer has the overhead nor the power to prevent the Italians from encroaching on his territory and stripping opportunities from Black Harlemites. Despite his best efforts, his thriving new nightclub, Club St. Clair, was ripped from underneath him in a shady deal...

The champ has entered the building for this week's episode of Godfather of Harlem Season 4, and he's here to talk some sense into Jerome Greene (Elijah Wright). Collider can exclusively share a new sneak peek at Episode 8 of the MGM+ crime drama, titled "If We Must Die," which sees Mayme Johnson (Ilfenesh Hadera) leverage none other than The Greatest himself, Muhammad Ali, embodied once again by The Rookie and All American star Deric Augustine, to get through to the young man before he makes a life-changing decision. Delia's (Roslyn Ruff) son is drafted to fight in Vietnam like many others, but the Black Panthers aren't about to sit idly by. The hope is that the legendary boxer, who himself took a stand against the war, will be able to find some common ground with him.

In the brief sneak peek, Jerome and Delia are seated for lunch at the diner...

On the heels of a well-received world premiere for Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest at the Cannes Film Festival, producer Jason Michael Berman and his newly launched A/Vantage Pictures have solidified the company’s ranks.

Jordan Moldo, who worked with Berman at Mandalay Pictures, has assumed the post of executive vp and he’ll be charged with using his skills in creative development and packaging to build out the company’s film and TV strategies across its outposts in Los Angeles, New York and Boulder. The A/Vantage Pictures roster also includes Matthew Lindner who joined as partner and vp, Mike Downing, another Mandalay vet, as director of development and Tori Kotsen as coordinator, the latter of whom joined from Lionsgate.

Team A/Vantage Pictures: Jordan Moldo, Jason Michael Berman, Tori Kotsen and Mike Downing. (Photo credit: Jay Lawrence Goldman)

“This team reflects the company we’re building at A/Vantage,...

At the Cannes Film Festival premiere of her baby daddy A$AP Rocky’s movie Highest 2 Lowest, Rihanna was a vision of beauty, radiating warmth and confidence in her heavily pregnant state.

Jump to a Look:

1. Red Carpet Royalty: Rihanna’s Blue Alaïa Gown at Cannes 2. Elevated Elegance: Blue Amina Muaddi Heels 3. Dripping in Diamonds: Rihanna’s Boucheron Jewelry 4. Flashback: Turquoise Fur & Lacroix at the Fashion Awards 5. Awards Night: White Alaïa Gown & Manolo Heels 6. Romantic Vibes: Magda Butrym Dress & Tom Ford Sandals 7. Street Chic: Crystal Belt Pumps at Paris Fashion Week 8. Swimwear Reinvented: Hermès Scarf as a Bikini Top

The film is an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Japanese movie High and Low, loosely based on Ed McBain’s 1959 novel “King’s Ransom.” The plot revolves around a wealthy man’s moral dilemma of whether to use his riches to fulfill his ambitions or to save a kidnapped child. It...

A rep for Denzel Washington is speaking out to explain why the actor missed his movie’s press conference during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

The Oscar-winning actor walked the red carpet, and then received a special Palme d’Or Award, for the premiere of his new movie Highest 2 Lowest on Monday night (May 19) in Cannes, France.

Denzel also made headlines for getting into an altercation with a photographer on the red carpet, but that has nothing to do with his absence at the press conference on Tuesday.

Keep reading to find out more…

Director Spike Lee and actors Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera were present for questions during the press conference, but Denzel and co-star A$AP Rocky both skipped the event.

Denzel‘s rep has explained that his absence was always planned.

The rep told Us Weekly that Denzel was “always scheduled to be in and out of...

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington have been one of the most successful director-actor duos in Hollywood, having previously collaborated on hits like Malcolm X and Inside Man. And the duo has once again reunited for the upcoming film Highest 2 Lowest.

An adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Japanese classic High and Low, the film marks their fifth collaboration since Inside Man, which was released in 2006. And Lee admitted he was surprised to realize just how much time had passed since their last collaboration.

Spike Lee was surprised to realize nearly 20 years had passed since his last team-up with Denzel Washington

The celebrated Hollywood duo, Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, is set to return to the screen with the upcoming neo-noir crime thriller, Highest 2 Lowest. The film follows a music mogul facing a life-or-death moral dilemma after becoming entangled in a ransom plot.

A still of Denzel Washington in Highest 2 Lowest...

A24's upcoming action thriller, Highest 2 Lowest, represents the fifth collaboration between Oscar winners Spike Lee and Denzel Washington throughout their distinguished careers. Though their joint efforts have been critically acclaimed, and their newest movie is already garnering praise, Lee suggests their time as creative partners could be over.

During an interview with Deadline, Lee admitted he didn't realize so much time had elapsed between him and Washington's last collaboration, Inside Man, and Highest 2 Lowest. The decorated filmmaker also conceded that, considering the stage of their careers and Washington's recent quips about retirement, Highest 2 Lowest is probably their last movie together. "Denzel and I didn’t know that our previous film, Inside Man, was 18 years ago. We were surprised because it felt like yesterday. But we didn’t miss a step," Lee said. "I think this is it—five. He’s been talking about retirement even...

Denzel Washingtonand Spike Lee have teamed up once again for their latest joint, and it is one that the critics are seemingly "high" on. The A24 and Apple Original Film Highest 2 Lowest has become the duo's highest-rated film so far on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing all the other Washington-Lee projects that the pair have become famous for. It should mark the high point of the men's collaborative effort, almost two decades after they last worked together.

As of this article's publication, Highest 2 Lowest currently has a critic's score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 12 professional reviews. No audience score is currently listed, though this is likely to change this summer when the film debuts theatrically (and eventually on Apple TV+). The film's rating is unsurprising given its positive reviews, with Collider's Therese Lacson sayingHighest 2 Lowest is a "vibrant, loud, and full of life" film that is a "delight to watch.

Nearly 20 years after Spike Lee and Denzel Washington joined forces for the 2006 thriller Inside Man, the duo are finally back together for the reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 Japanese film High and Low. Titled Highest 2 Lowest, the neo-noir crime thriller made its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday and has debuted to an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 92%, signifying that Lee and Washington could have another hit on their hands when the film hits theaters later this year.

Also starring Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Asap Rocky, and Ice Spice in her film debut, Highest 2 Lowest features Washington as David King, a music mogul who's widely known for having the "best ears in the business." When he's targeted with a ransom plot, King finds himself jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma.

Critic Matt Neglia from Next Best Picture notes that the film isn't just a "welcome reunion between two of cinema's greats,...

Spike Lee is a critically acclaimed director who teamed up with two-time Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington to create several successful films. Their latest offering premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Highest 2 Lowest marks their first collaboration in almost two decades. The movie is a modern reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low, also based on the 1959 Ed McBain novel King’s Ransom. Following its release at Cannes, the film scored a six-minute ovation, per Deadline. Its Rotten Tomatoes score followed suit, as Highest 2 Lowest debuted with a near-perfect 90% score, the duo's highest yet.

Lee directed the film from a script by William Alan Fox. Along with Washington, Highest 2 Lowest also stars Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice (in her film debut), and Asap Rocky. The movie follows a music mogul, played by Washington, set in contemporary New York City, who falls victim to extortion when his chauffeur's son...