Los Angeles, August 2025 – In a striking career moment, Denzel Washington has
returned to form with the critically acclaimed neo-noir crime thriller Highest
2 Lowest. Directed by Spike Lee, this film marks Washington’s most highly
rated collaboration with the director—surpassing even their past hits like Inside
Man—and showcases the enduring star power of Washington in the contemporary
film landscape.
Spike Lee & Denzel Washington Reunite—and Shine
Highest 2 Lowest, a modern reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s classic High
and Low, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025,
before opening theatrically in the U.S. on August 15, with a streaming
release following on Apple TV+ September 5.
The film has received universal
praise, achieving a 92–93% critics score—the highest rating yet for
any Spike Lee–Washington collaboration.This neo-noir thriller, backed by A24
and Apple Original Films, features standout performances from Washington,
Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, and ASAP Rocky (who also contributed two
original songs to the soundtrack).
Setting a New Benchmark: Highest
Grossing vs. Highest Rated
While Highest 2 Lowest sets a new critical benchmark,
other Washington blockbusters remain undefeated in box-office dominance:
- Gladiator II
(2024) is now Washington’s highest-grossing film, earning
approximately $326 million worldwide, surpassing past giants like American
Gangster and The Equalizer.
- The enduring Spike Lee–Washington favorite, Inside
Man (2006), remains their most commercially successful collaboration,
having grossed $184 million on a budget of $45–60 million.
- Other high-earners include American Gangster
(approximately $266 million worldwide) and The Equalizer series
with strong box office showings.
Why Highest 2 Lowest Matters
- Artistic Legacy:
This project reunites two cinematic legends—Spike Lee and Denzel
Washington—after nearly two decades, reaffirming their creative synergy.
- Critical Achievement:
It delivers Washington’s most celebrated performance in years, judged by
critics worldwide.
- Cultural Relevance:
As modern cinema increasingly blends art-house and blockbuster
sensibilities, the film stands as proof that star power and substantive
storytelling still coexist powerfully.