Highest 2 Lowest Trailer: What Inspired the Spike Lee & Denzel Washington Movie?

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The upcoming movie titled “Highest 2 Lowest,” directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington, is due to hit screens this year. Eager fans have been searching for clues about the origin of “Highest 2 Lowest.” This highly anticipated crime thriller will grace the big screen on August 22, 2025, followed by its streaming premiere on Apple TV+ on September 5.

Is Highest 2 Lowest based on a true story or book?

Denzel Washington’s upcoming movie Highest 2 Lowest has partially taken inspiration from a book.

The film is a modern adaptation in English of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, initially released in 1963. Interestingly, the Japanese version was inspired to some extent by the novel “King’s Ransom,” penned by Ed McBain under his pseudonym Evan Hunter.

Beyond Washington, the film Highest Two Lowest also stars A$AP Rocky, Jeffrey Wright, and Ilfenesh Hadera. According to the A24 website, the movie centers around a renowned music tycoon, often referred to as having the finest ears in the industry (played by Denzel Washington). The plot revolves around this character being caught in a dangerous ransom scheme and finding himself grappling with a life-or-death moral dilemma. Furthermore, Highest Two Lowest is set within the contemporary urban landscape of New York City.

At a film festival last year, well-known director Spike Lee shared that a pivotal moment for him at film school was being exposed to cinema from around the world, not just Hollywood productions. He also highlighted Kurosawa’s film, Rashomon, as having a significant impact on his career, inspiring him to create the movie She’s Gotta Have It.

Besides discussing the influence behind Highest 2 Lowest, Lee also elaborated on how Kurosawa’s filmography significantly impacted him. He mentioned that the central theme of Rashomon somewhat inspired his 1986 film, which revolved around “Nola Darling, a woman with three suitors who each perceived her differently. Since the start of my career, I have been heavily influenced by Kurosawa.” (As reported by Variety)

Conversely, it’s their fifth collaboration that Lee and Washington have engaged in, with Washington taking on a lower role this time around.

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2025-05-07 03:47