Introduction to Highest 2 Lowest
One of the most celebrated actor-director duos in the history of American cinema was reunited this week with the film Highest 2 Lowest. Guided by Spike Lee and led by Denzel Washington, it turned out to be their best-rated film ever, which is not an easy task when you consider that they have delivered classics like Malcolm X and Inside Man in the past.
The Film’s Background
Highest 2 Lowest marked Apple’s second play of the year after the record-breaking success of the sports drama F1, which was staged by Joseph Kosinski and led by Brad Pitt and published by Warner Bros. In contrast, Highest 2 Lowest is theatrically distributed by A24. The film is based on the Akira Kurosawa police proceedings High and Low.
Reception
It is currently sitting with a "certified fresh" 90% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus of the critics is: “Spike Lee and Denzel Washington remix a classic with lively results in Highest 2 Lowest, a boastful thriller that lovingly shows off New York City.” The audience score for the film on RT is just as impressive at 89%. In her review, Therese Lacson from Collider wrote: "Lively, loud, and full of life, Highest 2 Lowest is an optimistic film that represents a tonal shift from the original, but for the most part, thanks to Washington’s performance, it is a joy to see."
The Duo’s Previous Works
This film marks Lee and Washington’s first collaboration since Inside Man, which debuted almost two decades ago and currently holds a score of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. The other films from the duo include Malcolm X (89%), Mo’ Better Blues (71%), and He Got Game (80%).
Both Lee and Washington Are Coming Off Highly Acclaimed Works
The Oscar-winning Lee has not had a theatrical film since 2018’s BlacKkKlansman, which grossed over $90 million worldwide compared to a reported budget of $15 million. In 2020, he released the epic adventure film Da 5 Bloods on Netflix, with a budget of around $40 million, making it one of Lee’s most expensive films. Washington, on the other hand, received widespread recognition for his supporting performance in last year’s Ridley Scott‘s Gladiator II, which grossed over $460 million worldwide. Highest 2 Lowest will debut on Apple TV+ after its theatrical run.
Film Details
- Publication Date: August 15, 2025
- Duration: 133 minutes
- Writers: Alan Fox, Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Ryūzō Kikushima, Eijirō Hisaita, Evan Hunter
- Producers: Todd Black, Jason Michael Berman
