Movies - Highest 2 Lowest: Discover the Trailer for Spike Lee’s Gritty Return to Neo-Noir

By Mulder, 05 may 2025

Spike Lee doesn’t just remake a film—he reinvents it, restaging the narrative within the bruised heartbeat of contemporary America. Highest 2 Lowest, his bold and feverish reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 High and Low, explodes onto the scene with the release of its trailer, teasing a volatile fusion of neo-noir grit, moral complexity, and sharp cultural introspection. This time, the setting is no longer post-war Yokohama but the harsh, jagged skyline of modern-day New York City, where the lines between wealth and desperation are as thin—and as bloody—as ever. At the center stands Denzel Washington, reuniting with Lee for their fifth collaboration and their first in nearly two decades since Inside Man—a pairing that promises electricity, gravitas, and no shortage of gravely delivered monologues that’ll echo long after the credits roll.

From its very premise, Highest 2 Lowest promises an adrenaline-pumped reimagining of King’s Ransom, Evan Hunter’s 1959 crime novel that already inspired Kurosawa’s masterful tension-filled film. But Lee’s version, penned by William Alan Fox and reshaped in a pandemic-era rewriting process that reportedly began as early as 2020, feels like more than a remake—it’s an act of cultural translation. Here, the ransom plot isn’t just a criminal act; it becomes a metaphor for the cost of power, the illusions of success, and the moral paralysis of privilege in a society split not just by money but by identity, history, and media-fueled perception. Spike Lee’s signature style—punctuated by operatic musical choices, stylized cinematography, and politically-charged symbolism—feels perfectly tuned for this material.

What’s already turning heads beyond the stylized visuals and the unmistakable Spike Lee flair is the film’s astonishingly eclectic cast. Denzel Washington’s casting provides immediate weight, but it’s the unexpected names that spark real intrigue. ASAP Rocky—whom Lee claims has the main role—isn’t just playing dress-up in a supporting part; he’s leading the charge. Lee, always a connoisseur of street symphony and cultural currency, clearly sees something potent in Rocky’s charisma and raw screen presence. Paired with Ilfenesh Hadera and the reliably compelling Jeffrey Wright, the cast has undeniable credibility—but the biggest wildcard might be Ice Spice, making her film debut in a role still shrouded in mystery. Whether she’s a flash-in-the-pan or a breakout star waiting to happen, Lee has a track record of turning casting risks into cinematic alchemy (Rosie Perez in Do the Right Thing springs to mind).

Behind the camera, the pedigree is just as polished. Matthew Libatique, known for his collaborations with Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream), is crafting the film’s visual language. Expect sharp contrasts, a pulsating urban palette, and camera work that gets under the viewer’s skin. The editing team, led by Barry Alexander Brown and Allyson C. Johnson, ensures the pacing won’t lag for a second, while Howard Drossin’s music promises to bleed between classical tension and modern swagger. And all of this is being funneled through a production backed by A24, Apple Original Films, and Lee’s own 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks—arguably three of the boldest forces in modern filmmaking.

One of the more compelling anecdotes surrounding the film’s development is how its Cannes 2025 premiere almost slipped through the cracks of the official lineup announcement. According to reports, the film was not immediately listed while organizers awaited Denzel Washington’s confirmation to attend—a testament not only to his towering star power but also to how central his presence is to this project. It’s a rare instance where a festival premiere hinges on an actor’s red carpet availability rather than the film’s readiness. But it also speaks to how Highest 2 Lowest isn’t just another Spike Lee joint—it’s a cinematic event.

Scheduled for theatrical release by A24 on August 22, 2025, with a streaming debut on Apple TV+ just two weeks later, Highest 2 Lowest is clearly being positioned for wide impact, not just niche acclaim. That two-pronged distribution model ensures it’ll hit cinephiles in theaters and wider audiences at home, potentially putting it in strong awards-season contention depending on how it's received post-Cannes. And with a theme rooted in economic inequality, racial tension, and moral reckoning, its social relevance practically guarantees post-screening debates.

Ultimately, Highest 2 Lowest is shaping up to be more than a remake, more than a thriller—it’s a meditation on American duality, the façade of power, and the choices we make when forced to choose between personal cost and collective consequence. In Lee’s hands, the Kurosawa legacy is in good company—modernized, energized, and refracted through the cracked glass of a society teetering between its highest hopes and its lowest instincts. Buckle up: this one looks ready to shake the ground it walks on.

Synopsis : 
When a titan music mogul is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. A reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's crime thriller High and Low, now played out on the mean streets of modern day New York City.

Highest 2 Lowest
Directed by Spike Lee
Written by William Alan Fox
Based on High and Low by Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Ryūzō Kikushima, Eijiro Hisaita and King's Ransom by Evan Hunter
Produced by Todd Black, Jason Michael Berman
Starring  Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice, ASAP Rocky
Cinematography : Matthew Libatique
Edited by Barry Alexander Brown; Allyson C. Johnson
Music by Howard Drossin
Production companies : Escape Artists, Mandalay Pictures, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, A/Vantage Pictures
Distributed by A24 (United States), Apple Original Films (International)
Release dates : May 2025 (Cannes), August 22, 2025 (United States), September 5, 2025 (Apple TV+)