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Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s Highest 2 Lowest: All About the film based on Kurosawa’s 1963 hit
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Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest movie is already making everyone raise their eyebrows. A teaser has been released, and it gives a hint of what to expect while also keeping the actual plot tightly under wraps.
The A24 and Apple-backed movie starring Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky in lead roles is a crime-thriller inspired by Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s film of almost the same name- High and Low. Kurosawa’s film follows a businessman trying to decide whether to use his wealth to become more powerful or to save a kid’s life.
Both the films are based on Ed McBain’s novel called The King’s Ransom. Want to know more about this highly anticipated film? In this article we will discuss everything we know about Highest 2 Lowest including the release date, streaming details, and more. Also, bookmark this page because we will update this space with more information as they get released.
Release date and Where to Watch
Highest 2 Lowest movie will be released in theaters on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. The film will stream on Apple TV+ starting Sept. 5, 2025. It will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025.
What is the plot of Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest Movie?
Highest 2 Lowest is being described as a neo-noir crime thriller and is expected to revolve around a kidnapping and ransom situation. Spike Lee revealed that the film isn’t a remake but rather “a reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s great film” (via Deadline).
In Kurosawa’s 1963 film called High and Low, an executive called Kingo Gondo at a Yokohama shoe company gets into murky waters when his chauffeur’s son gets kidnapped and held for ransom. Spike Lee explained how his film will be different and said:
“In Kurosawa’s film, Toshiro Mifune is a shoemaker. In our film Denzel Washington is a music mogul with his own label and his reputation as the best ears in the business.”
The Logline for Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest is: “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 an interview with Variety, Lee revealed that attending NYU film school allowed him to know about filmmakers like Kurosawa, which inspired him to grow his craft in different ways. He explained how he was inspired by Kurosawa from the beginning:
“One of the best things about film school is that you get introduced to world cinema, not just Hollywood. Seeing Kurosawa’s film ‘Rashomon’ and its structure inspired me to make ‘She’s Gotta Have It.’ In ‘Rashomon,’ you have three people who witness a r*pe, and each gives their own opinion of what happened. In ‘She’s Gotta Have It,’ Nola Darling has three boyfriends who each see her in a different way. From the very beginning of my career, I was influenced by Kurosawa.”
Who is in the cast of Highest 2 Lowest Movie?
- Denzel Washington as David King
- Jeffrey Wright as Paul Christopher
- Ilfenesh Hadera as Pam King
- Aubrey Joseph as Trey King
- Michael Potts as Patrick Bethea
- Wendell Pierce as Gabe
- A$AP Rocky as Yung Felon
- John Douglas Thompson as Det. Earl Bridges
- Dean Winters as Det. Higgins
- LaChanze as Det. Bell
- Kevin D. Benton as Chanting Yankees Fan #3
- José Báez as Parade Gore
- Evyn George as Gym Goer
- Holden Goodman as College Student
Is There a Trailer for Highest 2 Lowest?
The first teaser for Highest for 2 Lowest doesn’t reveal clearly what the plot is going to be but it does showcase Spike Lee’s style. There are glimpses of action like shootouts, police sirens, and more. It begins with Denzel Washington’s character saying, “There’s more to life than just making money. It’s integrity. That’s what you stand for.”
He then says, “Do you believe in yourself? Do you believe you will be successful?” The video ends with him saying in a rhythm, “Can you handle the mayhem? Can you handle the money? Can you handle the success? Can you handle the failure? Can you handle the lovers? Can you handle the memes? Can you handle everything that’s in between?”
This teaser also introduces other actors like Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice, Ilfenesh Hadera, and A$AP Rocky. Check it out below:
Where was Highest 2 Lowest Filmed?
Highest 2 Lowest began production in New York City and wrapped in May 2024. The cinematographer is Matthew Libatique.
Behind the Scenes
Highest 2 Lowest is produced by Apple and A24, Escape Artists, Mandalay Pictures, and 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks. The film is written by Alan Fox and Spike Lee. Todd Black produced for Escape Artists, with Jason Michael Berman for Mandalay Pictures. Mandalay’s Jordan Moldo served as the co-producer.
Executive producers included Lee for 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, with Juniper Productions’ Chris Brigham, Matthew Lindner, and Katia Washington. There’s also Mandalay’s Peter Guber involved as an executive producer as well.
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