Denizel Washington and A$AP Rocky face off in Spike Lee's crime thriller 'Highest 2 Lowest'

Highest 2 Lowest is a modern crime thriller directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky. The film is a reimagining of Akira Kurosawa's High and Low and follows a powerful music executive whose world is turned upside down when a kidnapping-for-ransom scheme targets the wrong victim. The movie debuted at the Cannes Film Festival and is set for a US theatrical release on August 15, followed by a streaming launch on Apple TV on September 5.

Highest 2 Lowest, a modern crime thriller directed by Spike Lee, is set to debut in theaters on August 15, followed by a streaming launch on Apple TV+ on September 5. The film stars Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky and is a reimagining of Akira Kurosawa's classic High and Low.

The story revolves around a powerful music mogul, played by Washington, whose world is turned upside down when a kidnapping-for-ransom scheme targets the wrong victim. The film is a collaboration between Lee and Washington, marking their fifth project together. It was debuted out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Highest 2 Lowest is produced by Apple and A24, with Escape Artists and Mandalay Pictures also involved in the production. The film is written by Alan Fox and Lee, with a production team that includes Spike Lee, Todd Black, Jason Michael Berman, and Peter Guber.

The film is highly anticipated, with notable fans including director Martin Scorsese, who praised the movie on Instagram. Scorsese gushed about Washington's performance, the editing, cinematography, and Lee's direction. The trailer for the film showcases the intense moral dilemma faced by the protagonist, as well as the chemistry between Washington and Rocky.

Highest 2 Lowest is expected to be a significant addition to the streaming library of Apple TV+, following the success of other high-profile films like Ted Lasso and Severance. The film's unique blend of suspense, drama, and modern storytelling is likely to attract a wide audience.

References:
[1] https://www.indiewire.com/news/trailers/highest-2-lowest-trailer-spike-lee-1235142685/
[2] http://www.thefutoncritic.com/video/2025/08/04/video-highest-2-lowest-official-trailer-apple-tvplus-720311/20250804apple01/
[3] https://deadline.com/2025/08/highest-2-lowest-trailer-denzel-washington-asap-rocky-1236477677/
[4] https://9to5mac.com/2025/08/04/new-apple-tv-movie-is-nyc-crime-thriller-with-denzel-washington-heres-the-trailer/