Spike Lee and Denzel Washington reunite in their fifth collaboration, the crime thriller Highest 2 Lowest, an ambitious reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, set in contemporary New York City.
Rather than a straight remake, Spike Lee adapts Kurosawa’s themes to a modern urban landscape infused with hip-hop, corporate culture, and racial commentary.
The movie premiered out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025, garnering strong buzz and marking the latest chapter in Lee-Washington’s storied partnership. While this is their fifth film spanning three decades — Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Malcolm X (1992), He Got Game (1998), and Inside Man (2006)— Lee has hinted this may be their final collaboration.
David King (Washington), once the titan behind the chart‑topping label Stackin’ Hits, faces a crisis when a kidnapping goes terribly wrong. His chauffeur’s son, not his own, is taken for a $17.5 million ransom. King is thrust into a moral ordeal: should he risk everything for another child? The story explores legacy, morality, and aging amid power and ambition.
A$AP Rocky is being hailed as a breakout force, delivering a nuanced and powerful cinematic performance. During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show, Spike Lee touted A$AP Rocky’s performance, noting Rocky “went toe‑to‑toe” with Washington and shared an uncanny father‑son resemblance on screen.
The film is in theaters August 22, 2025.
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