Acclaimed director Spike Lee returns to the screen with Highest 2 Lowest, a gritty 2025 neo-noir crime thriller that reimagines Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 masterpiece High and Low for a modern American audience. Drawing inspiration from Ed McBain’s 1959 crime novel King’s Ransom, this new iteration blends high-stakes drama with sharp socio-political commentary, a signature of Lee’s best work.
Set in a tense urban backdrop that simmers with class divide and power dynamics, Highest 2 Lowest explores the moral cost of justice in a world of wealth, corruption, and desperate ambition. The story follows a high-powered executive caught in an impossible ransom situation that blurs the line between corporate greed and human empathy.
Cast
- Denzel Washington as David King
- Ilfenesh Hadera as Pam King
- Jeffrey Wright as Paul Christopher
- A$AP Rocky as Yung Felony
- Ice Spice as Marisol Cepeda (film debut)
- Aubrey Joseph as Trey King
- Dean Winters as Detective Higgins
- John Douglas Thompson as Earl Bridges (detective)
- LaChanze as Bell (detective)
- Michael Potts as Patrick Bethea
- Wendell Pierce as Gabe
Cameo Appearances
- Eddie Palmieri, Anthony Ramos, and Rosie Perez appear as themselves in the film
Overview Table
| Actor | Character | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Denzel Washington | David King | Lead (music mogul) |
| Ilfenesh Hadera | Pam King | David King’s spouse |
| Jeffrey Wright | Paul Christopher | David King’s friend/driver |
| A$AP Rocky | Yung Felony | Kidnapper / aspiring artist |
| Ice Spice | Marisol Cepeda | Feature film debut |
| Aubrey Joseph | Trey King | David’s son |
| Dean Winters | Detective Higgins | Investigating the kidnapping |
| John Douglas Thompson | Earl Bridges | Detective |
| LaChanze | Bell | Detective |
| Michael Potts | Patrick Bethea | Supporting role |
| Wendell Pierce | Gabe | Supporting role |
| Eddie Palmieri, Anthony Ramos, Rosie Perez | Themselves | Cameo/meta appearances |
