Highest 2 Lowest
Updated: 12/10/2025, 5:07:01 PM Wikipedia source
Highest 2 Lowest is a 2025 American crime thriller film directed by Spike Lee from a screenplay by Alan Fox. It is an English-language remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 Japanese film High and Low, itself based on Ed McBain's 1959 novel King's Ransom. The film stars Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, ASAP Rocky, John Douglas Thompson, Dean Winters, LaChanze, Princess Nokia, and Ice Spice (in her film debut). It is the fifth collaboration between Lee and Washington and the first since Inside Man (2006). Principal photography began in New York City in March 2024 and wrapped that May. Highest 2 Lowest had its world premiere out of competition of the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025, and was released theatrically in the United States by A24 on August 15 before becoming available on Apple TV+ on September 5. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.
Infobox
Directed by
Spike Lee
Screenplay by
Alan Fox
Based on
mw- High and Low(1963 film)by Akira Kurosawa Hideo Oguni Ryūzō Kikushima Eijirō Hisaita [ja] King's Ransom(1959 novel)by Ed McBain
Produced by
Todd Black Jason Michael Berman
Starring
Denzel Washington Jeffrey Wright Ilfenesh Hadera ASAP Rocky
Cinematography
Matthew Libatique
Edited by
Barry Alexander Brown Allyson C. Johnson
Music by
Howard Drossin
Productioncompanies
A24 Kurosawa Production 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks Escape Artists Mandalay Pictures
Distributed by
A24 Apple Original Films
Release dates
May 19, 2025 (2025-05-19) (Cannes) August 15, 2025 (2025-08-15) (United States) September 5, 2025 (2025-09-05) (Apple TV)
Running time
133 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Box office
$1.5 million
Tables
· Release and reception › Accolades
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards
Award
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards
Date of ceremony
January 10, 2026
Category
Best Director
Recipient(s)
Spike Lee
Result
Pending
Celebration of Cinema and Television
Celebration of Cinema and Television
Award
Celebration of Cinema and Television
Date of ceremony
December 9, 2025
Category
Career Achievement Award
Recipient(s)
Won
Gotham Independent Film Awards
Gotham Independent Film Awards
Award
Gotham Independent Film Awards
Date of ceremony
December 1, 2025
Category
Breakthrough Performer
Recipient(s)
ASAP Rocky
Result
Nominated
Savannah Film Festival
Savannah Film Festival
Award
Savannah Film Festival
Date of ceremony
October 28, 2025
Category
Legend of Cinema Award
Recipient(s)
Spike Lee
Result
Won
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | January 10, 2026 | Best Director | Spike Lee | Pending | |
| Celebration of Cinema and Television | December 9, 2025 | Career Achievement Award | Won | ||
| Gotham Independent Film Awards | December 1, 2025 | Breakthrough Performer | ASAP Rocky | Nominated | |
| Savannah Film Festival | October 28, 2025 | Legend of Cinema Award | Spike Lee | Won |
References
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://directories.wga.org/project/1264563/highest-2-lowest
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/highest-2-lowest-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdmxodcw
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Highest-2-Lowest-(2025)
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/19/highest-2-lowest-review-spike-lee-and-denzel-washington-remake-kurosawa-in-fine-style
- TIMEhttps://time.com/7309886/aiyana-lee-highest-2-lowest-song/
- The New Yorkerhttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/08/25/highest-2-lowest-movie-review
- Megalopolishttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/spike-lee-giancarlo-esposito-fiat-commercial-1235890389/
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://deadline.com/video/spike-lee-denzel-washington-aap-rocky-ice-spice-highest-2-lowest/
- Dargis, Manohla (14 August 2025). "'Highest 2 Lowest' Review: Spike Lee's Back on Home Turf". The New York Times. ISSN 1
- High and Lowhttps://variety.com/2024/film/news/denzel-washington-spike-lee-high-and-low-kurosawa-remake-1235902630/
- High and Lowhttps://deadline.com/2024/03/high-and-low-movie-ilfenesh-hadera-denzel-washington-1235861213/
- High and Lowhttps://deadline.com/2024/03/high-and-low-jeffrey-wright-joins-spike-lee-movie-apple-a24-1235862322/
- High and Lowhttps://variety.com/2024/film/news/ice-spice-cast-spike-lee-high-and-low-denzel-washington-1235966628/
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://uproxx.com/music/asap-rocky-highest-2-lowest-soundtrack-two-new-songs/
- Oppenheimerhttps://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/american-society-of-cinematographers-complete-winners-list-2024-1235926406/
- Colliderhttps://collider.com/high-and-low-remake-filming-wrapped/
- Artnet Newshttps://news.artnet.com/art-world/spike-lee-highest-2-lowest-art-collection-2678263
- "Highest 2 Lowest (Original Soundtrack) by Various Artists on Apple Music"https://music.apple.com/us/album/highest-2-lowest-original-soundtrack/1831298730
- SoapCentralhttps://www.soapcentral.com/entertainment/highest-2-lowest-soundtrack-guide-a-complete-list-music-denzel-washington-film
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://pitchfork.com/news/spike-lee-details-soundtrack-for-new-movie-highest-2-lowest/
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://variety.com/2025/film/festivals/why-spike-lee-highest-2-lowest-wasnt-cannes-original-lineup-1236365843/
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://variety.com/2025/film/news/highest-2-lowest-trailer-denzel-washington-spike-lee-1236350566/
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://deadline.com/2025/08/highest-2-lowest-trailer-denzel-washington-asap-rocky-1236477677/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/news/singers-struggle-box-office-movies-asap-rocky-taylor-swift-1236494970/
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/highest_2_lowest
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/highest-2-lowest
- Highest 2 Lowesthttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/highest-2-lowest-spike-lee-film-review-2025
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/highest-2-lowest-review-spike-lee-denzel-washington-1235124498/
- The New Yorkerhttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/08/25/highest-2-lowest-movie-review
- The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/review/2025/09/05/highest-2-lowest-review-spike-lees-film-about-an-old-school-music-mogul-is-never-boring-but-lacks-cohesion/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2026-movies-for-grownups-awards-nominations-list-1236431097/
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2025/10/spike-lee-ryan-coogler-sterling-k-brown-tessa-thompson-among-honorees-for-8th-critics-choice-celebration-of-black-cinema-tv-1236593134/
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2025/10/2025-gotham-award-nominations-1236599967/
- filmfest.scad.eduhttps://filmfest.scad.edu/festival/honored-guests