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This September, we are getting a ton of content on streaming from the much-anticipated new seasons of Slow Horses and Only Murders in the Building. This upcoming month will see the release of many great movies on streaming, so we thought of compiling a list of all the must-watch movies that are coming straight to streaming.

Winter Spring Summer or Fall (September 1) – Paramount+ Credit – Paramount Pictures

Winter Spring Summer or Fall is a teen romantic drama film directed by Tiffany Paulsen from a screenplay by Dan Schoffer. The 2024 film follows Remi Aguilar, a teenage girl who has planned...

And in a blink of an eye, we move from summer’s blockbusters (refreshingly scary this year), to the beginnings of award season once again. You know it’s really September when half of Hollywood escapes the late summer heat by heading to Colorado, to get a sneak peek of the next year’s Spirit Award winners at Telluride.

But have no fear, if you didn’t grab your gondola ticket to the fest, September still has plenty of indie gems for you. Let’s take a look at what you can look forward to at a theater near you this month.

Preparation For The Next Life

When You Can...

A fresh week means fresh arrivals on the big streamers. From preschool shorts with classic Disney characters to a long-awaited live-action remake and a high-stakes crime thriller, there’s plenty landing between Monday, September 1, and Sunday, September 7, 2025.

Below, you’ll find every new title hitting Disney+ and Apple TV+ this week, with quick, need-to-know details on plots, casts, and who’s behind the camera. Dates refer to when each title becomes available during this seven-day window.

‘Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Pet Hotel’ (2025) Disney Television Animation

Minnie and Daisy open a full-service pet hotel—complete with spa time, play zones, and Clarabelle Cow’s wellness activities—while Cuckoo-Loca helps keep everything running smoothly.

The first full week of September is small but mighty on the streaming front, with a family favorite making its live-action debut, a bite-sized batch of Disney Channel shorts cruising onto Disney+, and a star-powered thriller landing on Apple TV+. Below, you’ll find everything arriving during the week, organized by title with quick, factual rundowns of what each project is and who’s involved.

Disney+ brings new episodes from the preschool hit ‘Minnie’s Bow-Toons: Pet Hotel’, the live-action ‘Lilo & Stitch’ film on Wednesday, and a compilation rollout of ‘Road Trip: Shorts’ to kick off the weekend. Apple TV+ closes things out Friday with Spike Lee’s ‘Highest 2 Lowest’. Read on for dates,...

“Highest 2 Lowest” is a new ‘kidnapping crime’ feature, directed by Spike Lee, starring Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wrught, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson and Ice Spice, streaming September 5, 2025 on AppleTV+:

“…in this remake of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1959 feature “High and Low”, the film introduces a music mogul (Washington)…

“…targeted with a ransom plot, leaving him jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Denzel Washington, one of Hollywood’s most noted movie stars, said he no longer watches movies himself. In a recent interview with GQ alongside Highest 2 Lowest co-star A$AP Rocky and director Spike Lee, Washington claimed to not be interested in watching anything on the big screen.

In the interview, Rocky asked Washington to list some of his favorite dolly shots in Lee’s films. “I don’t watch movies, man,” Washington replied. “I really don’t.” After some laughter, the actor doubled down, saying, “I’m just being honest with you!

Having been involved in the film industry for nearly 45 years, Denzel Washington has seen everything there is to see in Hollywood, given his experience, CV and the luminaries he's collaborated with over that time. With that in mind, it appears the Oscar-winning actor no longer finds the prospect of going to the theater enticing, as he admits he's grown "tired" of watching movies.

Speaking with GQ (viaVariety) to promote his latest film alongside director Spike Lee, Highest 2 Lowest, Washington admitted that he hasn't been to a cinema in a while, claiming he doesn't have the appetite to watch movies like one time. “I don’t watch movies, man. I really don’t,...

Denzel Washington thinks Spike Lee is the perfect person to tell a "New York story".The 70-year-old actor reunited with Spike, 68, to make Highest 2 Lowest, the new crime thriller film, and Denzel has revealed that he relished the experience of working with Spike once again.The Hollywood icon - who previously worked with Spike on Malcolm X and Inside Man - told Collider: "I knew we had great success together - our last time out on Inside Man, and it was just my gut ... I don't know how, I don't know whose idea it was to begin with but it was a bright idea. And it was a New...

Plot: When his son is kidnapped, a legendary record company owner (Denzel Washington) doesn’t hesitate to pay the $17.5 million ransom, even if it will effectively ruin him financially. However, when it turns out the kidnappers made a mistake and accidentally took the son of his chauffeur (Jeffrey Wright), he’s faced with a dilemma.

Review: Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest is a remake of the Akira Kurosawa classic High and Low, which, in turn, was based on the crime novel King’s Ransom by Ed McBain. Despite it being the first time Lee has worked with his best leading man, Denzel Washington, in nineteen years, you’d be forgiven for...

Spike Lee’s latest joint is, above all, a celebration. He fêtes New York in his first hometown film in a decade, and his longtime collaborator, Denzel Washington. He pays off his longterm admiration for Akira Kurosawa, in a loose remake of the Japanese director’s 1963 noir High And Low. Lee even decks out his hero’s base in the blue and orange of his beloved New York Knicks. For all the high stakes and desperate moments of this thrilling crime drama, its filmmaker is having the time of his life.

Not that that’s immediately obvious. We meet Washington’s David King in his Brooklyn penthouse, planning the biggest deal of his career alongside his wife Pam (Ilfenesh Hadera) and earnest son Trey (Aubrey Joseph). King is pressured and fast-talking, taking another huge risk in a career filled with them. Mere hours later, a kidnapping has put all his plans on hold,...

Acting legend Denzel Washington could arguably have more than the two Academy Awards he has on his impressive resume, having delivered memorable big-screen performances over four-plus decades in Hollywood. However, as Washington's career likely reaches its final stretch, the Highest 2 Lowest star insists he's "not that interested" in adding any more golden statuettes to this trophy cabinet.

Speaking with Jake's Takes, Washington addressed the notion of award-chasing when seeking out acting opportunities. According to the two-time Oscar-winner, he didn't get into acting to get awards and isn't going to start now. “I don't do it for Oscars. I really don't care about that kind of stuff," he said. "I...

Spike Lee, the iconic filmmaker behind Highest 2 Lowest and some of America’s most celebrated movies, including Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, and Inside Man. With a career spanning over 40 years, Lee has made a name for himself by telling stories that tackle race, society, and culture, with unflinching honesty

With a net worth estimated at $60 million (via Celebrity Net Worth), Lee is roughly three times wealthier than rapper Asap Rocky, who is estimated at around $20 million (via Cnw) and also stars in Highest 2 Lowest.

He started small with the low-budget indie She’s Gotta Have It in 1986, which cost $175,000 to make and earned over $7 million (via Forbes). Since then, he has directed more than 35 films through his production company, 40 Acres and a Mule, and has earned critical acclaim, multiple award nominations, and hits along the way.

Besides directing, Lee teaches at NYU’s Tisch School of the...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson for Wbgr-fm on August 14th, 2025, reviewing the new film “Highest 2 Lowest,” directed by Spike Lee and featuring Denzel Washington. In theaters on August 15th.

Washington portrays David King, a music mogul who is on the precipice of selling his label. His right hand man is Paul (Jeffrey Wright), an ex-con who was with King in the early days of his career. While David is contemplating his future with his wife Pam (Ilfenesh Hadera) their teenage son Trey (Aubrey Joseph) is presumably kidnapped, and the ransom is 17 million dollars. But Trey turns up unharmed, and the twist is the kidnapper took the wrong teen, it is Paul’s son Kyle (Elijah Wright). Will the ransom drop still go on, and what is the mystery behind the rapper named Yung Felon (A$AP Rocky)?

”Highest 2 Lowest...

“He’s like a jazz musician,” Matthew Libatique explains when quizzed on his longtime collaborator Spike Lee.

The two filmmakers, both native New Yorkers, have worked together on five features: Inside Man, She Hate Me, Miracle at St. Anna, Chi-Raq, and, most recently, Highest 2 Lowest, which opens today in U.S. theatres. Only Ernest Dickerson, the great cinematographer behind Lee’s most famous works, Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, and Jungle Fever, has worked with the filmmaker more.

Highest 2 Lowest is Lee’s first New York-shot and set film since 2014’s Da Sweet Blood of Jesus. A remake, or, as Lee has described, a reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, it’s an ambitious film set across Manhattan and Brooklyn, with some of the most impressive action sequences in Lee’s decades-long career..

The crime-thriller stars Denzel Washington as a music industry exec who becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped by mistake and held for ransom. The wider ensemble features A$AP Rocky, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, and Elijah Wright.

Below, Libatique shares some of the secrets behind the film’s production, including how he and Lee managed to shoot on live Subway cars, how they executed the expansive Uptown sequence in the shadow of Yankee Stadium, and working with Denzel Washington. Libatique also talks about his time working on the now-stalled Blade sequel for Marvel.

Highest 2 Lowest is in theatres now and will drop on Apple TV+ on September 5.

Deadline: Matthew, you’re from New York, right? You’ve had a long collaboration with Spike. How’d that come about?

Matthew Libatique: I’m from Elmhurst, Queens, but I met Spike for the first time in California. I was in my early 30s, and I got a call from my agent at the time. She said, ‘Guess who called?’ It was Spike Lee. I freaked out. I remember meeting him at the Mondrian in Hollywood. I had to keep convincing myself to be professional. But we hit it off right away, and the rest is history. I wish I had done more films with him. I’m thankful for our relationship.

Deadline: Spike’s carry such a unique and indescribable feeling. It’s very him. As someone who has worked with him, what do you think creates that energy. What does he different from the others?

Libatique: He’s fearless in how he executes each day and accomplishes a scene. He’s not in the tradition of Ridley Scott, where he shoots everything with three cameras. He will do an entire two pages of dialogue with one shot. It’s really just a feeling. He’s like a jazz musician. The camera, lens, and performances aren’t Spike’s only considerations. He also has an idea of the final music and cadence while we’re shooting. He’s a true craftsman, but he’s also a creative force. He doesn’t see the world the same way as everybody else. And when you talk to him, you see that he’s a student of filmmakers like Billy Wilder, John Ford, and Alfred Hitchcock. So he’s an amalgamation of how he grew up as a kid. Popular culture personified. And a true craftsman.

Deadline: What was Spike’s pitch to you for this film?

Libatique: There was no pitch. Spike said, ‘Matty, I’m doing Kurosawa’s High and Low with Denzel.’ When somebody says that to you, there’s no pitch—that’s it.

Deadline: You’ve been pretty busy over the last few years. You shot ‘Caught Stealing’ and ‘Is This Thing On?.’ How’d this film fit into that schedule?

Libatique: After the strikes, I was going to do the sequel to Blade. I was in Atlanta, and planned to move to New York after the shoot. But the writers’ strikes happened. Blade shut down. I was stuck in Atlanta when Spike called. I finally moved to New York and started prepping with Spike two months later, so it didn’t have to fit in. I couldn’t believe how amazing a project it was, just the reunion of Spike and Denzel. It was an honor.

Deadline: The opening sequence: I have to ask, that wasn’t scripted, was it? How’d you execute it? Did you use drones? How’d you pick the music?

Libatique: I didn’t know what the music was going to be; Spike just came out of left field with it. Who would have expected it? I would’ve thought it might be something else, perhaps a score from Branford or Wynton Marsalis or maybe a Hip Hop track, but it was an old classic. And that’s what I’m saying, if Spike were a chef, he would make the oddest food ever. You think what he does is anachronistic, but it all works because it’s so consistent.

The opening wasn’t really scripted. His first idea was to go over the welcome sign in Brooklyn. And then go towards the building, but they wouldn’t let us fly over the Brooklyn Bridge. You’re not allowed to fly over the Brooklyn Bridge, so we ended up flying towards the building from the other side of the bridge. And then we had the drone up there and started shooting. We also mixed in some helicopter work, which we had to do because later in the film, there’s a chase scene up the East Side Highway, which we shot using the helicopter.

Deadline: People often talk about the difficulties of shooting in New York. What makes it so tough beyond the expense?

Libatique: The city is full of people who aren’t in the film industry, and there’s not a high tolerance for taking over a whole block to shoot something. It’s not like Los Angeles, which is an industry town, so you have to negotiate with real people, which is a challenge for the film commission in New York. For example, we used to be able to shoot two people in a car up and down Fifth Avenue. Now, just getting the location is a problem because they won’t really close down a road, so then you’re starting and stopping. They also have limits on how long you can be in a neighborhood to protect the population. And it’s expensive. But it’s worth it.

Deadline: And the Uptown Puerto Rican parade sequence. It immediately goes down as one of the all-time New York movie sequences. Did you really shoot that on the ground in the Bronx?

Libatique: Yep, we shot right in the shadow of Yankee Stadium. We shot the big party sequence at a skate park about three blocks away from Yankee stadium. Once Denzel’s character leaves the confines of the home, the language of the film changes. We transition into a more handheld environment. I even switched lenses. I switched from an anamorphic lens, the Mercury Atlas 1.5 Prime, to old Canon rangefinders for more flair and softer contrast. That’s when we introduced 16mm and Super 8 cameras. Spike is down for anything, and that’s why it’s so fun to work with him. One day, he said to me, ‘Where can we fit in film?’ And I said, the Puerto Rico Day Parade and the Subway. As soon as he leaves the house, it wouldn’t be one format, because he’s out in the real world. This affluent and famous man has to be out with the rest of us. I wanted to feel like the cinematography had different perspectives.

Deadline: How long did it take to shoot?

Libatique: It was a few days here and there on the Subway. We shot on the actual Subway cars. In New York, you can only shoot on two or three Subway platforms. Working with the Mta in New York is extremely difficult. Obviously, the Subway is used by real people at all hours of the day. There are some old platforms that you’re allowed to shoot on. When you watch the film, the train goes from Wall Street to 42nd Street, 14th Street, all the way Uptown. But it was all just one platform. We were just changing the angle and changing the signs. They also only gave us one train to shoot on, and we could only run it from one stop to another. It took a little time to cheat that.

Deadline: What was it like working with Denzel again?

Libatique: There are many movie stars, but he is beyond a movie star. He’s just an entity. And the camera loves him. Again, I go back to the jazz reference. For example, you see him rhyme at the end of the film with A$AP. That was all him. It wasn’t scripted. There’s the moment where he’s talking to Jeffrey Wright, and he’s just so frustrated that he starts slamming stuff onto his desk. Again, not scripted. He just creates. So you have Spike person creating behind the camera, and Denzel creating in front of it. It’s a magical combination. Working with him is just a joy to watch.

Deadline: You missed the Cannes premiere. Were you shooting Aronofsky’s film?

Libatique: I wasn’t shooting, I was coloring the film. I just finished it. It took a while, and I just couldn’t take myself away from my concentration. So I opted not to go.

Deadline: One major change since we last spoke in 2023 for Maestro is the discussion around AI in filmmaking and cinematography, specifically. What do you think about it all?

Libatique: It’s piqued my interest. You need to keep up with technology as a cinematographer or filmmaker. Some stuff I’ve seen looks photo-real, while other things look like I’m playing Call of Duty. I know from coloring a movie how AI tools have changed the game. We used to farm out shots for rotoscoping to different countries because it was a laborious process that was expensive to pay for when we did it in the United States. Now we can do it in real time. We had a shot in Highest 2 Lowest where Jeffrey Wright is in Denzel’s office, and there’s a light in his glasses. In the past, you would just take the L because there was nothing you could do about it. But using AI tools, they were able to take previous frames, reconstruct his eye, and remove the light.

It’s incumbent upon us to understand the technology. Everything is being redefined now, like the workflow. I think it will be akin to how the animation workflow works. I’ve experimented with prompting AI, and I never get good results, so it’s interesting. I’m not gonna sit there and be doom and gloom. We gotta face it.

Deadline: Last question: You mentioned Blade. When the film gets back moving will you go back and shoot it?

Libatique: It depends on the script and the filmmaker. But it’s always fun to reunite with old friends like Marvel.

Denzel Washington‘s latest movie, Highest 2 Lowest, has declared its streaming release date on Apple TV, and it’s much earlier than expected. The movie is set to premiere in theaters on August 15, 2025, and yet, the streaming outlet has decided to launch the film merely 2 weeks after its theatrical debut – on September 5th.

For such a powerhouse platform, Apple TV is pulling back its punches when it comes to films. Recently, Brad Pitt‘s F1 proved how strong a movie can finish in theaters if given the right tools via promotion and marketing. Apple Studios has no shortage of budget in that regard, and yet, Highest 2 Lowest is not only flying blind into the theaters but also getting pulled back after a limited release.

This either proves the studio has no faith in Denzel Washington or that a film’s theatrical income doesn’t satisfy its streaming model,...

A$AP Rocky fans, rejoice: the rapper has shared two new songs, “Trunks” and “Both Eyes Closed.” Stream them below.

Both tracks are taken from the soundtrack to Highest 2 Lowest, the new Spike Lee film adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 thriller, High and Low. Rocky is among the cast of Lee’s version, which also includes Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and Ice Spice. The movie hits theaters today (August 15th).

The new tracks follow Rocky’s most recent release, “Pray4DaGang,” which dropped last month. It was the latest track from the rapper’s highly anticipated (and long-awaited) fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb.

In the meantime, Rocky will again flex his acting chops in the upcoming A24 feature, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. The film, which also stars Rose Byrne and Conan O’Brien, premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and is currently making the festival circuit.

For a filmmaker so acclaimed, the works of Akira Kurosawa have lent themselves to some fantastic remakes: The Magnificent Seven, A Fistful of Dollars, and Living, to name a few. Now, Spike Lee — a master filmmaker in his own right, having helmed classics including Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X — has attempted to tackle one of Kurosawa’s finest films in Highest 2 Lowest, creating a film that’s undeniably ambitious but unfortunately uneven in its execution.

Highest 2 Lowest Review

A remake of High and Low (itself adapted from the novel King’s Ransom by Ed McBain), Highest 2 Lowest follows a wealthy mogul who is forced to make an impossible decision when he is targeted in a ransom plot. Taking the core, well-known story and changing the setting and context, this version feels both familiar and unique — the balance that all remakes should strive for.

Kurosawa’s film was always a compelling morality tale,...

Denzel Washington is sharing his brutally honest thoughts on the Oscars.

If you didn’t know, the 70-year-old actor has been nominated for 10 Academy Awards over the years, winning two: first in 1990 for Glory then again in 2002 for Training Day.

While promoting his new movie Highest 2 Lowest, Denzel shared an interview why he’s “not that interested” in winning Oscars.

Keep reading to find out more… “I don’t do it for Oscars. I really don’t care about that kind of stuff,” Denzel said about the roles he takes while appearing on Jake Hamilton‘s podcast Jake’s Takes.

“I’ve been at this a long time, and there’s times when I’ve won, shouldn’t have won, didn’t win, should have won,” he continued. “Man gives the award, God gives the award. I’m not that interested in Oscars. People say, ‘Well, where do you keep it?...

One of the joys of movies is watching Denzel Washington act. While the concept of the movie star has changed drastically over the years, Washington remains one of the best of the best — a powerhouse performer with a screen presence that pulls us like a magnet. Washington has had many wonderful collaborators over the years, but arguably the best of his partnerships has been with Spike Lee. Lee, one of the best to ever do it, has helmed Washington in several memorable roles, and the last time they worked together was in 2006's crackerjack bank robbery flick "Inside Man" (the biggest box office hit of Lee's career).

Now, almost 20 years later, Washington and Lee are together again with "Highest 2 Lowest," a remake of Akira Kurosawa's masterful "High and Low" (itself inspired by the Ed McBain book "King's Ransom"). Washington and Lee reuniting is probably worth the price of admission alone,...

Denzel Washington, the prolific star who's led a long list of films that includes Remember the Titans and American Gangster, has shared what he really thinks of Oscars and other awards. With an extensive career spanning four decades, the two-time Academy Award winner today says he "doesn’t care about that kind of stuff," and that there are times when he won that he shouldn't have, and vice versa.

Via Variety, the Crimson Tide star sat down to talk with Jake Hamilton for the Jake's Takes show on YouTube. In a back-and-forth exchange with the host, Washington was asked about his motivation, career and technique. The actor shared that he's not in it for the Oscars or recognition from any other awards organizations.

"I don't do it for Oscars. I don't care about that kind of stuff. I've been at this a long time, and there's times when I won...

Here’s How You Can Watch Denzel Washington’s High-Rated Highest 2 Lowest Online! (Photo Credit –X)

Veteran Hollywood actor Denzel Washington has delivered many memorable performances throughout his illustrious career. The list includes Malcolm X, Training Day, The Great Debaters, American Gangster, Flight, and The Tragedy of Macbeth, to name a few. And now, the Oscar-winning actor is geared up for his next film, Highest 2 Lowest, which is slated to hit the big screen in the U.S. on August 15, 2025.

Ahead of its theatrical release, Spike Lee’s crime thriller has garnered favorable reviews from critics. The film currently holds an impressive 92% critics’ score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Read on to discover the film’s plot and where to stream it after its theatrical release.

Highest 2 Lowest by Spike Lee, starring Denzel Washington. August 15th. pic.twitter.com/BhIJeZT0K6

— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) July 24, 2025

Highest 2 Lowest...

Denzel Washington is one of the most popular actors alive, and over the years he has won and been nominated for several Oscars. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Cry Freedom in 1988, won Best Actor for Glory in 1990, and got another nomination for Malcolm X in 1993.

He was nominated again for The Hurricane in 2000, won Best Actor for Training Day in 2002, and received nominations for Flight, Fences, Roman J. Israel, Esq., and The Tragedy of Macbeth.

Now, Washington is back with a new movie, Highest 2 Lowest, which critics are loving. The 2025 neo-noir crime thriller is directed by Spike Lee and is an English-language take on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low.

The movie is loosely based on the 1959 novel King’s Ransom by Ed McBain. It stars Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Asap Rocky, and Ice Spice, who makes her film debut. This marks the first time...

Denzel Washington is one of the most popular actors alive, and it’s no surprise he has won and been nominated for several Oscars over the years. He won Best Supporting Actor for Glory in 1990 and Best Actor for Training Day in 2002.

Other nominations include Cry Freedom (1988), Malcolm X (1993), The Hurricane (2000), Flight (2013), Fences (2017), Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2018), and The Tragedy of Macbeth (2022).

Now, Washington is back on screens with his new movie Highest 2 Lowest, which is already getting great reviews from critics. Directed by Spike Lee, the 2025 neo-noir crime thriller is an English-language remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low, itself based on Ed McBain’s 1959 novel King’s Ransom.

The movie stars Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Asap Rocky, and Ice Spice, marking her first film role. This film also marks the first collaboration between Lee and Washington since Inside Man in 2006.

While promoting the film on Jake’s Takes,...

It is a packed mid August frame with a mix of shiny new entries, special events, and a couple of lovable throwbacks. You have a giant lizard stomping back into the multiplex, a live riff comedy night, prestige drama, animated romance, and a gnarly slate of thrillers and horror. There is truly something for every vibe.

Below you will find everything opening on August 14, August 15, and August 17, 2025, including who is in it, how long it runs, and whether it is a wide rollout or a limited peek. Pick your lane, grab a seat, and enjoy the cool air conditioning while the stories do their thing.

‘Shin Godzilla’ (2016) Toho Pictures

The modern Japanese reboot lumbers back to the big screen as a widescreen rerelease on August 14, 2025. Starring Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara, and Ren Ôsugi, this action drama horror sci fi blend arrives from Gkids in a wide rollout.

At two hours,...

Starring as Denzel Washington’s wife in a Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest” was a dream come true for Ilfenesh Hadera. But she admits she was skeptical when she heard A$AP Rocky was also cast in a starring role in the film.

“I mean, like total transparency, I asked Spike who was cast as the kidnapper. He said [A$AP] Rocky and I was like, ‘oh…’ I’d never seen him act before,” Hadera told Variety on Monday at the movie’s New York City premiere.

In “Highest 2 Lowest,” a modern reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic “High and Low,” Rocky takes on his most substantial role yet as the film’s central antagonist.

This isn’t Rocky’s first time on the big screen. He made his feature film debut as a drug dealer in “Dope,” but it was his supporting role in the 2018 legal drama “Monster” that caught Lee’s attention.

Spike Lee is back in 2025 with a new neo-noir crime thriller called Highest 2 Lowest. The film is an English-language remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low, which itself was inspired by Ed McBain’s 1959 novel King’s Ransom.

Denzel Washington stars alongside Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Asap Rocky, and Ice Spice, who makes her film debut. This project marks the first time Lee and Washington have worked together since 2006’s Inside Man.

Filming took place in New York City, starting in March 2024 and wrapping in May. Highest 2 Lowest had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025, out of competition. The movie is set to hit theaters in the United States on August 15 through A24 and will be available on Apple TV+ starting September 5, according to the studio.

Denzel Washington stars in the official trailer for Spike Lee's #Highest2Lowest (89%). pic.twitter.com/C3fPquRq...

Spike Lee’s latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, is a 2025 American neo-noir crime thriller that reimagines Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low. The movie is also loosely based on Ed McBain’s 1959 novel King’s Ransom.

The film stars Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Asap Rocky, and Ice Spice, who makes her big-screen debut. This marks the first time Lee and Washington have worked together since 2006’s Inside Man, making it a highly anticipated reunion.

Filming took place in New York City from March to May 2024. Highest 2 Lowest had its world premiere out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025. A24 is releasing the film in U.S. theaters on August 15, and it will become available on Apple TV+ on September 5.

Critics have generally responded positively. On Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 49 reviews were positive, while Metacritic gave it a score of 76 out of 100, signaling “generally favorable” reviews.

Spike Lee made headlines at Cannes this year when premiering his new film Highest 2 Lowest and announcing that it would likely be his last team-up with frequent collaborator Denzel Washington.

“I think this is it — five,” Lee told reporters of his and Washington’s number of films together. “He’s been talking about retirement, even though he’s just done another deal. Five films together, they stand up.”

The pair have united for Inside Man, Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game and now Highest 2 Lowest, but at the new film’s New York premiere on Monday, Lee walked back those previous comments and kept the door open for more projects with Washington.

“I said that before, but I got my mind right,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m open to work with Denzel Washington and this not be the last film of the dynamic duo,...

It’s been almost two decades since Spike Lee and Denzel Washington last joined forces with Inside Man, an instant classic of the heist genre. Their fifth and latest outing, Highest 2 Lowest, finds them paying tribute to another director-actor pairing—that of Kurosawa Akira and Mifune Toshiro, whose work together in the 1950s and ’60s has inspired several remakes and homages over the years, from A Fistful of Dollars to Star Wars.

Highest 2 Lowest draws from Kurosawa’s High and Low (titled Heaven and Hell in the original Japanese), itself an adaptation of a pulp novel by Ed McBain published a few years earlier. Working from a script by Alan Fox, Lee does for Kurosawa’s masterpiece what Kurosawa had done for several plays by William Shakespeare, translating the essentials of plot and character to a new time period and cultural context. Anyone familiar with the original—a...

Denzel Washington is dressing down in jeans for his latest red carpet appearance!

The Oscar-winning actor went casual for the premiere of his new Apple TV+ movie Highest 2 Lowest on Monday (August 11) at BAMcafe in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Denzel was joined at the event by co-stars A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Dean Winters, Lachanze, Elijah Wright, and Rosie Perez, among others.

Director Spike Lee also stepped out for the event. The movie hits theaters on August 15 ahead of a streaming debut on September 5. Watch the trailer now!

Here’s the synopsis: “When a titan music mogul (Washington), widely known as having the ‘best ears in the business’, is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma.”

Fyi: Rocky is wearing Celine.

Browse through the gallery for more photos…...

Highest 2 Lowest stars Denzel Washington, A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice and director Spike Lee were in attendance at the A24 and Apple film’s red carpet premiere at New York City’s Brooklyn Academy of Music this evening.

Held at Bam Strong’s Harvey Theater, the star-studded affair also featured cast members Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson and more, as well as performers who had notably collaborated with Lee decades prior via his seminal breakout Do the Right Thing, which stars Giancarlo Esposito and Rosie Perez, both of whom reunited with the filmmaker tonight.

A slate of musicians also graced the carpet, including Judy Collins, Brent Faiyaz, Chance the Rapper, Princess Nokia and Slick Rick. Other notable attendees included Sinners breakout Miles Caton, Dapper Dan, Keegan-Michael Key, This Is Us alumna Susan Kelechi Watson, Tony winner Adrienne Warren and The Sopranos‘ Edie Falco.

Hitting theaters Aug.

Mid August brings a lively mix of brand new stories, special events, and a couple of beloved returns to the big screen. You can chase monster mayhem, drift into music history, or lean into heartfelt drama and sharp laughs without leaving the cool of the auditorium.

Here is the full slate landing on August 14, August 15, and August 17, 2025, with cast highlights, runtimes, and how wide each one goes. Scan the lineup, circle a favorite, and make your plan before the good seats vanish.

‘Shin Godzilla’ (2016) Toho Pictures

The towering kaiju roars back into theaters as a wide rerelease on August 14, 2025 from Gkids. Starring Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara, and Ren Ôsugi, this action drama horror sci fi entry plays like a fresh shock on a huge screen.

At two hours, it shifts from dry humor to city shaking spectacle with a clean sense of scale. If you want a crowd pleaser with brains and brawn,...

A Highest 2 Lowest star "didn't even know" his son was auditioning with Denzel Washington, and yes, he got the part. Directed by Spike Lee, the upcoming film is a reimagining of Akira Kurosawa's High and Low (1963) and stars Washington as a powerful music mogul who becomes the target of a ransom scheme and is forced to make an impossible moral choice.

In addition to Denzel Washington in the lead role, the cast also includes Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, Asap Rocky, Ice Spice, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson, Lachanze, Aubrey Joseph, Michael Potts, Wendell Pierce, and Elijah Wright. Appearing as themselves are Eddie Palmieri, Anthony Ramos, and Rosie Perez.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Highest 2 Lowest star Jeffrey Wright shared the story of how his son, Elijah Wright, also landed a role in the movie. Originally up for another role, his son's audition tape impressed Spike Lee, leading to an unexpected audition with Washington.

Spike Lee’s new film Highest 2 Lowest released its first trailer Monday, revealing Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky in a tense ransom drama set inside New York’s music industry and hitting theaters August 15 before streaming on Apple TV+ September 5. The project reunites Washington and Lee for the first time since 2006’s Inside Man and reimagines Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 thriller High and Low through a hip-hop lens, with A24 and Apple Original Films co-financing.

Washington portrays David King, a legendary label chief whose son is abducted; Rocky’s Yung Felon demands a precisely calculated $17.5 million payoff, a figure teased in the trailer’s opening monologue. Early footage shows Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice, and Ilfenesh Hadera orbiting King’s recording-studio empire, while commentators point to bold streetwear, gold headphones, and diamond watches that double as symbols of status and threat.

Apple’s synopsis lists a 133-minute running time and...

Denzel Washington’s music mogul battles through a ransom situation in the official trailer for Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest.

The preview features short snippets from the film, combined with animated visuals and live-action shots of the Brooklyn Bridge. Washington and co-star Ilfenesh Hadera are shown talking on the phone with the kidnapper, while police remain on standby behind the couple.

Viewers hear the kidnapper make his demands, asking for $17.5 million in a black backpack and telling Washington’s David to take the four subway train to Manhattan, in a call in which he proclaims to David, “You’re not God no more … I am!”

Viewers also get glimpses of A$AP Rocky’s character in the preview.

Throughout the trailer, David’s driver and friend, played by Jeffrey Wright, provides him with support on multiple occasions. “I think you got to be a little crazy sometimes in this...

The new streaming original movie is a reimagining of a Kurosawa classic.

When Spike Lee and Denzel Washington get together, magic is usually made. The pair that brought “Malcolm X” to life is reuniting for “Highest 2 Lowest,” a new streaming-original film debuting on Apple TV+ later this year. If the pairing of Lee and Washington alone wasn’t enough to get you excited for its release, we’ll give you more details about the film below.

Everything you need to know about ‘Highest 2 Lowest’

When does ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ come out?

What is ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ About?

Who stars in ‘Highest 2 Lowest’?

Is ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ based on another movie?

What are critics saying about ‘Highest 2 Lowest’?

Watch a trailer for ‘Highest 2 Lowest’

Will you be able to stream ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ for free?

7-Day Free Trial $9.99+ / month apple.com When does ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ come out?

“Highest 2 Lowest...

Starring Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky, Spike Lee’s highly anticipated thriller Highest 2 Lowest is gearing up for both its theatrical and streaming release. The film, which is set to hit the theatres on August 15, 2025, will be made available for streaming on Apple TV+ starting from September 5, 2025.

Highest 2 Lowest had its grand premiere at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival, earning a positive response from critics, having an 89% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of its release. A reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, Lee’s neo-noir thriller is set in modern-day New York City, focusing on a powerful music executive caught up in a high-stakes ransom plot.

Highest 2 Lowest Drops Thrilling New Trailer Denzel Washington in Highest 2 Lowest | Credit: A24

In a very interesting move, Highest 2 Lowest released its first official trailer merely days before the film hits theatres. However, the trailer, which...

Apple TV+ and A24 have debuted the first trailer for Spike Lee‘s new movie!

Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and A$AP Rocky star in the 68-year-old Oscar-winning filmmaker’s crime thriller movie Highest 2 Lowest.

Here’s the synopsis: “When a titan music mogul (Washington), widely known as having the ‘best ears in the business’, is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. Brothers Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the 5th in their long working relationship for a reinterpretation of the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low, now played out on the mean streets of modern day New York City.”

Keep reading to find out more…Back in May, Rocky had the support of partner Rihanna, who is currently pregnant with their third child, at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival premiere of the new movie.

When a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington), widely known as having the “best ears in the business”, is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. Brothers Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the 5th in their long working relationship for a reinterpretation of the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low, now played out on the mean streets of modern day New York City.

In his Cannes Film Festival review, RogerEbert‘s Robert Daniels says, “Lee isn’t setting out to copy what was great before. He is using the past as a starting point to launch into what may be the final phase of his career. He is wielding a plethora of inspirations—musical, cinematic, and historical—to reunite with an old friend. He is making a Spike Lee joint. And it’s exceptional.”

Starring Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright,...

The Payback by James Brown starts playing as soon as you click play on Denzel Washington‘s Highest 2 Lowest trailer. The foreboding song works perfectly with the story of the upcoming A24 movie. But that isn’t the only song featured in this magnum opus of a movie.

The title song of the movie is performed and written by Aiyana-Lee, which is featured in the second half of the trailer, and it perfectly matches the setting of the movie’s tone and atmosphere. The movie also features songs from A$AP Rocky, alongside Ice Spice in a prominent role. Check out the trailer for Highest 2 Lowest below:

Denzel Washington dons the role of King with A$AP Rocky portraying the role of Yung Felon, who would do anything for the Washington mogul to notice him, including but not limited to kidnapping his son and holding him for ransom. That’s the plot of the movie.

“Highest 2 Lowest” is a new action feature, directed by Spike Lee, starring Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wrught, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky, Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson and Ice Spice, releasing August 22, 2025 in theaters:

“…in this remake of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1959 feature “High and Low”, the film introduces a music mogul (Washington)…

“…targeted with a ransom plot, leaving him jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington have thrown the internet into a frenzy with the release of the official trailer for their new film, Highest 2 Lowest. This isn’t just another crime thriller—it’s a modern remix of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, now set in the pulse-pounding world of New York’s music industry. If you’re a fan of either Lee or Washington, buckle up: the duo’s fifth collaboration looks electric, urgent, and genuinely original.

Denzel Brings the Heat, Lee Brings the Style

Right from the first beat, the Highest 2 Lowest trailer refuses to quit. Denzel Washington stars as David, a legendary music mogul whose world comes crashing down when his son Trey is kidnapped. The trailer wastes no time diving into the chaos—cutting from slick boardroom deals and studio sessions to desperate phone calls with a faceless kidnapper. “I know what it is...

A24 has dropped the first full trailer for ‘Highest to Lowest,’ a gripping modern reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 masterwork High and Low, helmed by none other than Academy Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee.

Part crime thriller, part social commentary, the film sees Lee fuse his signature style of political urgency and kinetic energy with the bones of Kurosawa’s psychological noir. The result? A sleek, pressure-cooker drama set against the brutal backdrop of American class division and corporate power.

Leading the powerhouse ensemble is Denzel Washington, reuniting with Lee after their acclaimed collaborations on ‘Malcolm X,’ ‘He Got Game,’ and ‘Inside Man.’ Washington steps into the role originally played by Toshiro Mifune — here reimagined as a high-profile tech executive whose world unravels when a kidnapper mistakes the identity of a child in his care. But unlike the original film, Lee’s take pivots not just on moral dilemma, but on how wealth,...

Spike Lee’s new movie, Highest 2 Lowest, is making waves as a fresh take on Akira Kurosawa’s classic 1963 film High and Low.

This neo-noir crime thriller stars Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Asap Rocky, and introduces Ice Spice in her first film role. The movie is based on the 1959 novel King’s Ransom by Ed McBain, but Lee brings a modern and American twist to the story.

Filming started in New York City in March 2024 and wrapped up by May. The movie had its world premiere out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025. It’s set to hit theaters in the United States on August 15, with streaming on Apple TV+ to follow on September 5. The trailer for Highest 2 Lowest has just been released, giving fans a first look at the intense and stylish new film.

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Spike Lee’s new film Highest 2 Lowest is making waves with its recently released trailer, giving audiences their first real look at this stylish neo-noir crime thriller.

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The movie stars Denzel Washington and is a fresh take on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low. This American version brings the story into today’s world, exploring crime, loyalty, and power in a gripping new way.

Highest 2 Lowest features a strong cast alongside Washington, including Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Asap Rocky, and Ice Spice, who makes her film debut here. The film’s story centers around David King, played by Washington, and the tense drama that unfolds when a kidnapping turns his world upside down.

The cast also includes familiar faces like Dean Winters and Wendell Pierce, with appearances by Eddie Palmieri, Anthony Ramos, and Rosie Perez as themselves.

Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Spike Lee mark their fifth collaboration with A24’s Highest 2 Lowest. A reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, the crime thriller’s official trailer sets up a battle between Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky.

The film also stars Oscar nominee Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction) and Ilfenesh Hadera (Godfather of Harlem).

“When a titan music mogul (Washington), widely known as having the ‘best ears in the business,’ is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma,” reads A24’s synopsis.

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee’s successful collaboration began with Mo’ Better Blues in 1990. 1992’s Malcolm X came next, followed by He Got Game in 1998 and 2006’s Inside Man. Their fifth collaboration will open in theaters on August 15, 2025, followed by a streaming debut on Apple TV+ on September 5.

Alan Fox wrote the screenplay and Todd Black...

Acting legend Denzel Washington goes from the Highest 2 Lowest in the anticipated titular crime thriller. The upcoming A24 reimagination of a Japanese classic drops its latest trailer, with Washington front and center.

A24 released the latest Highest 2 Lowest trailer on Aug. 4, spotlighting Washington's central character, David King, a high-ranking music executive regarded as the "best ears in the business." King initially claims that "there's more to life than just making money. There's integrity, there's what you stand for." However, King's associate, Paul Christopher (Jeffrey Wright) suggests that "you gotta be a little crazy sometimes in this world to get what you want."

Things get crazy when King gets threatened by a mystery kidnapper who's taken his son and demands a hefty payday in exchange for returning him home. The kidnapper drives a hard bargain with King, warning him that "you're not God no more...I am," and that "you got blood on your hands,...

Denzel Washington’s creative relationship with director Spike Lee goes all the way back to the 1990s’ Mo’ Better Blues, which they followed up with the landmark movies Malcolm X, He Got Game, and Inside Man. After a 19-year break, they have reunited for the kidnapping thriller Highest 2 Lowest. It hits theaters August 15 and comes to Apple TV+ September 5.

Highest 2 Lowest is a loose remake of the 1963 Akira Kurosawa film High and Low, which drew inspiration from Ed McBain’s 1959 crime novel King’s Ransom. In the new incarnation,...

"You let him go, I'll make sure you set free." Apple TV & A24 have finally revealed the main official trailer for Spike Lee's latest film titled Highest 2 Lowest, a modern remake of Kurosawa's 1963 classic High and Low (aka Heaven and Hell). It first premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival a few months ago - and will open in theaters soon for a few weeks before it's streaming on Apple TV+ in September. After nearly twenty years, two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington reunites with the legendary Spike Lee for a new joint. This pulse-pounding New York City thriller follows a mastermind in music biz who gets rocked by a kidnapping. When a titan music mogul in the Big Apple is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. A reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's kidnapping thriller High and Low, now played...

Spike Lee estrenó en Cannes esta relectura contemporánea. © A24

A24 ha publicado el primer tráiler y póster de Highest 2 Lowest, la nueva película de Spike Lee, que reinterpreta el mítico thriller policíaco de 1963 High and Low, del cineasta Akira Kurosawa, ahora trasladado a las oscuras calles de la Nueva York contemporánea.

En Highest 2 Lowest, un magnate de la música (Washington), conocido por tener «los mejores oídos del negocio», se ve atrapado en un plan de rescate que pronto lo coloca en un dilema moral de vida o muerte.

La película, que tuvo su estreno mundial en el Festival de Cannes, está protagonizada por Denzel Washington (Gladiator II), Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction), Ilfenesh Hadera (Billions) y el rapero A$AP Rocky.

Te Puede Interesar ¡Wow! Denzel Washington, Robert Pattinson y Daisy Edgar-Jones protagonizarán la película ‘Here Comes the Flood’.

No es esta una colaboración cualquiera: Highest 2 Lowest marca la quinta...