Denzel Washington Shines in ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ With An Amazing Rotten Tomatoes Score
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/C3fPquRq1x
— Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) August 4, 2025
The movie has received mostly positive reactions from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 49 reviews are positive, while Metacritic gave it a score of 76 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews. Critics have praised Denzel Washington’s performance, calling it Oscar-caliber and showing why he is considered one of the best actors of his generation. Highest 2 Lowest also earned praise for its cinematography and soundtrack, with many highlighting how New York City is captured as a living, breathing character in the film.
“Denzel: he’s one name now. He can do no wrong,” some critics have noted, emphasizing how his performance dominates the screen, even when sharing scenes with strong co-stars like Jeffrey Wright. Washington slowly builds his charm and intensity, delivering moments of true cinematic greatness.
Denzel Washington gives an Oscar-caliber performance as a powerful music executive facing a deadly moral dilemma. Highest 2 Lowest continues to prove why Washington is arguably the best actor of his generation.
Julian Roman
Highest 2 Lowest features an unprecedented performance from Denzel Washington, impressive cinematography, and fantastic music. However, the story is so shackled to safe and expected circumstances that it tethers the film to certain mediocrity.
Chris Sawin
The director’s desire to show off New York in all of its sweltering, swarming diversity has rarely been so palpable, and the city plays itself with aplomb.
Adam Nayman
Denzel: he’s one name now. He can do no wrong. Even with Jeffrey Wright seriously trying to pull attention as the second banana, Denzel knows to pay out his charms slowly. By the time he builds to a crescendo, you see what greatness on film can be.
Roger Friedman
Highest 2 Lowest is Spike Lee at his most accessible and at the same time his most provocative. [Full review in Spanish]
Ruben Peralta Rigaud
However, not all feedback has been glowing. Some critics feel the story sticks too closely to safe and predictable paths, limiting its impact. Others have criticized the film for feeling more like a TV movie than a theatrical experience, suggesting it doesn’t fully live up to the legacy of Kurosawa’s original.
Critics who were less impressed also questioned whether Spike Lee is still able to fully use his unique voice in this type of crime thriller, pointing out that the film sometimes struggles to break new ground.
Denzel Washington gives an Oscar-caliber performance as a powerful music executive facing a deadly moral dilemma. Highest 2 Lowest continues to prove why Washington is arguably the best actor of his generation.
Julian Roman
Highest 2 Lowest features an unprecedented performance from Denzel Washington, impressive cinematography, and fantastic music. However, the story is so shackled to safe and expected circumstances that it tethers the film to certain mediocrity.
Chris Sawin
The director’s desire to show off New York in all of its sweltering, swarming diversity has rarely been so palpable, and the city plays itself with aplomb.
Adam Nayman
Denzel: he’s one name now. He can do no wrong. Even with Jeffrey Wright seriously trying to pull attention as the second banana, Denzel knows to pay out his charms slowly. By the time he builds to a crescendo, you see what greatness on film can be.
Roger Friedman
Highest 2 Lowest is Spike Lee at his most accessible and at the same time his most provocative. [Full review in Spanish]
Ruben Peralta Rigaud
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