In 2025, legendary director Spike Lee returns with Highest 2 Lowest, a high-stakes urban thriller that reimagines Akira Kurosawa’s classic High and Low for a modern audience. The film stars A$AP Rocky in a compelling lead role, alongside cinematic icons Denzel Washington and Jeffrey Wright, rising star Ilfenesh Hadera, and rapper-turned-actress Ice Spice.
The film, produced by A24 and Apple Original Productions, premiered to acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and is set to hit theaters on August 15, 2025, followed by an exclusive streaming release on Apple TV+ on September 5.
Set in the vibrant chaos of New York City, Highest 2 Lowest dives into a gripping crime narrative rooted in the music industry. A$AP Rocky not only headlines the cast but also composed the film’s powerful original soundtrack, adding raw emotional weight to the story.
Lee’s version stays true to Kurosawa’s core themes of morality, class divide, and psychological pressure, but injects a gritty, urban twist. Much of the action unfolds in an upscale Manhattan apartment, a modern-day reflection of the original’s minimalist aesthetic.
Written by debut screenwriter Alan Fox, the film masterfully balances character-driven drama with stylized tension, blending cinematic tradition with contemporary cultural relevance. Highest 2 Lowest is poised to become one of 2025’s most talked-about releases.