Longtime partners Denzel Washington and Spike Lee have reunited for the new film Highest 2 Lowest, a collaboration between A24 and Apple Original Films.
The official teaser trailer reveals Washington’s character, a music mogul, asserting in a voiceover, “There’s more to life than just making money.” The trailer showcases scenes set in New York City, featuring a sweeping view of the Brooklyn Bridge, intense chases, gunfire, and a substantial amount of cash.
Washington wraps up the teaser with a thought-provoking line: “That’s the question I have for you: Can you handle it? Not all money is good money.”
Highest 2 Lowest serves as a contemporary reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller, High and Low, now set in present-day New York City. It follows Washington’s character, who must navigate a perilous ransom scheme that poses a grave moral dilemma.
The film features a talented cast, including Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice, and ASAP Rocky.
Directed by Lee from a screenplay by William Alan Fox, Highest 2 Lowest draws inspiration from the novel King’s Ransom by Ed McBain (Evan Hunter).
This film marks the fifth collaboration between Washington and Lee, their first partnership in almost two decades. Their notable previous works together include Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Malcolm X (1992), He Got Game (1998), and Inside Man (2006). This track record emphasizes their ability to produce captivating cinema.
Highest 2 Lowest will make its world debut in the non-competitive category at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, ahead of its theatrical release on August 22. Following its cinema debut, the crime thriller will be available for streaming on Apple TV+ starting September 5.
