‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Trailer: Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky Clash in Spike Lee’s Urban Crime Epic

Spike Lee reimagines a Kurosawa classic with a fierce, class-warfare thriller set in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, led by Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky

The Upcoming thriller reunites acclaimed Director Spike Lee and long time collaborator Denzel Washington for the first time since 2006’s Inside Man—and throws A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice, and a city-wide manhunt into the mix.

Apple and A24 have released the first official trailer for Highest 2 Lowest, a stylized, street-level crime thriller that marks the long-awaited reunion between director Spike Lee and Denzel Washington. Inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low, the film premieres in theaters on August 15 before streaming September 5 on Apple TV+.

Set against the chaotic pulse of modern-day New York City, Highest 2 Lowest reimagines Kurosawa’s tale of ransom and mistaken identity for the music industry era. Washington stars as a powerful but aging music mogul whose life is upended when his driver’s child is mistakenly kidnapped. As pressure mounts, secrets unravel, and public scrutiny intensifies, he must decide how far he’s willing to go—and what he’s willing to lose.

Joining Washington is an ensemble that brings both heat and edge: A$AP Rocky plays a volatile antagonist, with supporting roles from Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Dean Winters, and rising star Ice Spice. The film premiered out of competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, marking Lee’s sixth appearance at the iconic event and celebrating 36 years since his breakout with Do the Right Thing.

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The trailer teases a film thick with tension and atmosphere—Lee’s visual signature is on full display, blending street realism with mythic grandeur. Written by Lee and Alan Fox, and produced by Escape Artists and Mandalay Pictures, the film was developed by Apple Original Films and A24. Todd Black, Jason Michael Berman, and Katia Washington are among the producers, with Spike Lee also serving as executive producer through his 40 Acres and a Mule banner.

Highest 2 Lowest is not just a return to form for Lee—it’s a collision of hip-hop, legacy, and class warfare wrapped in a thriller that promises to dominate both the box office and the discourse.

Watch The Trailer Below: