Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Highest 2 Lowest is streaming now in the United States through the Apple TV app with an Apple TV subscription. Spike Lee’s 2025 crime thriller stars Denzel Washington as a music mogul caught in a ransom plot involving his family, money, and reputation. Here’s how the film connects to Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, what to know before watching, and what to watch next.
Yes—Highest 2 Lowest is currently streaming in the United States through the Apple TV app with an Apple TV subscription. Apple’s listing gives the film a September 5, 2025 streaming release date, a runtime of 2 hours 13 minutes, and an R rating for language throughout and brief drug use. As of August 11, 2026, Apple displays a seven-day trial and a subscription price of $12.99 per month, though pricing, trial eligibility, and availability can change. Check the current Apple TV listing for Highest 2 Lowest before subscribing.
What is Highest 2 Lowest about?
Directed by Spike Lee, Highest 2 Lowest stars Denzel Washington as David King, a powerful music mogul whose family, reputation, and professional legacy are put at risk by a ransom plot. The central question is not simply whether he can defeat an external enemy. It is whether he will make a life-or-death choice when money, family loyalty, social status, and public reputation collide.
That makes the film better described as a crime thriller with a strong moral and social dimension than as a conventional action movie. The music business is central to the story, and the New York setting gives Lee room to connect personal danger with questions of class, power, and image.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- HD streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Compact without compromises: The sleek design of Roku Streaming Stick won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
The cast listed by Apple includes Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky, Ilfenesh Hadera, John Douglas Thompson, Dean Winters, LaChanze, Aubrey Joseph, E.W., Michael Potts, and Wendell Pierce. The film is identified as a 2025 thriller/crime movie from the United States. Apple’s official page has the current cast, rating, runtime, and availability information.
Why Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s reunion matters
Highest 2 Lowest is the fifth feature collaboration between Spike Lee and Denzel Washington. Their previous films together include Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game, and Inside Man. Familiarity with those movies is not required, but the reunion gives this project added importance: it brings together a major American director and one of his most closely associated leading actors for a new story about ambition, identity, and public consequence.
The film is also a reinterpretation rather than an unrelated movie that happens to share a similar title. A24 describes it as Spike Lee’s present-day New York reworking of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller High and Low. A24’s film page provides the official description and identifies the Kurosawa connection.
Rank #2
- Advanced 4K streaming - Elevate your entertainment with the next generation of our best-selling 4K stick, with improved streaming performance optimized for 4K TVs.
- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
- Cloud gaming, no console required – Stream Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and hundreds of games on your Fire TV Stick 4K Select with Xbox Game Pass and Luna via cloud gaming. Xbox Game Pass subscription and compatible controller required. Each sold separately.
- Smarter picks with Alexa+ – Getting to what you love has never been easier. Press the voice remote button and talk naturally to find what to watch across your apps, manage your smart home, or dive into virtually any topic.
- Wi-Fi 6 support - Enjoy smooth 4K streaming, even when other devices are connected to your router.
Is Highest 2 Lowest a remake of Kurosawa’s High and Low?
It is best understood as a modern reinterpretation of Kurosawa’s film. The broad dramatic foundation remains recognizable: a wealthy and influential man is drawn into a kidnapping or ransom crisis involving his family, forcing him to weigh personal responsibility against financial and social consequences.
Kurosawa’s High and Low centers on Kingo Gondo, a wealthy industrialist whose family becomes the target of a kidnapper. The 1963 Japanese film was based on Ed McBain’s novel King’s Ransom, runs 143 minutes, and is known for moving between a tightly controlled social drama and a detailed police investigation. Criterion’s notes on High and Low provide the film’s historical, literary, and technical context.
Lee’s version shifts the world from industrial manufacturing to the contemporary music industry and from Kurosawa’s Japan to modern New York. That change is more than a cosmetic update. David King’s wealth and influence are tied to culture, celebrity, and reputation, so the story’s moral pressure operates in an environment where public image can be almost as valuable—and as vulnerable—as money.
Rank #3
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
Should you watch the new film or the original first?
For most viewers, watching Highest 2 Lowest first is the simplest route. It stands on its own as a contemporary crime story, and knowing the source material is not necessary to follow the premise. You can then watch Kurosawa’s High and Low as a comparison: look at how each film handles wealth, family obligation, police procedure, geography, and the social distance between the powerful and the people around them.
If you prefer to encounter the source before a reinterpretation, watch Kurosawa’s film first. That approach makes the changes in setting, profession, period, and visual style more immediately apparent. It also turns the two films into a useful double feature rather than treating Lee’s movie as a replacement for the original.
The best physical edition of the original to watch next
Criterion currently lists two physical editions of Kurosawa’s High and Low: a two-disc 4K UHD and Blu-ray edition and a one-disc Blu-ray edition. The 4K package includes a new 4K restoration, a 4.0 surround soundtrack, commentary by Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince, a making-of documentary, interviews, trailers, and printed essays. It is a companion to the source film—not a physical release of Highest 2 Lowest.
For viewers who want to compare the two movies carefully, the Criterion High and Low 4K UHD/Blu-ray edition is the most substantial option listed in the supplied research. Check the retailer or Criterion for current stock, edition details, and price before buying.
The music and soundtrack connection
Because David King is a music mogul, the film’s music-industry setting also makes its soundtrack a natural companion product. A24 lists a 2XLP Highest 2 Lowest Original Motion Picture Soundtrack pressed on platinum vinyl. The release combines songs associated with A$AP Rocky, Jensen McRae, Aiyana-Lee, and Eddie Palmieri with original score material by Howard Drossin featuring the Fergus McCreadie Trio.
At the time of research, A24 listed the soundtrack at $40. Price and stock can change, and the official product page confirms an A24 shop release—not verified Amazon inventory. Collectors can view the official Highest 2 Lowest vinyl soundtrack at A24; it is an optional physical collectible and is not needed to stream or understand the movie.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #4
- Stunning 4K and Dolby Vision streaming made simple: With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- Breathtaking picture quality: Stunningly sharp 4K picture brings out rich detail in your entertainment with four times the resolution of HD. Watch as colors pop off your screen and enjoy lifelike clarity with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.
- Seamless streaming for any room: With Roku Streaming Stick 4K, watch your favorite entertainment on any TV in the house, even in rooms farther from your router thanks to the long-range Wi-Fi receiver.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, so you can switch from streaming to gaming with ease. Plus, it’s designed to stay hidden behind your TV, keeping wires neatly out of sight
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Highest 2 Lowest |
| Director | Spike Lee |
| Lead actor | Denzel Washington as David King |
| Genre | Thriller/crime |
| Runtime | 2 hours 13 minutes |
| Rating | R for language throughout and brief drug use |
| Streaming release | September 5, 2025 |
| Current U.S. viewing path | Apple TV app with an Apple TV subscription, as of August 11, 2026 |
| Source film | Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low |
Who is this film for?
- Spike Lee and Denzel Washington fans: This is their fifth feature collaboration and another chance to see how their partnership handles a high-stakes moral conflict.
- Viewers who enjoy crime thrillers with social tension: The ransom premise is tied to wealth, status, family, and reputation rather than being presented only as a physical chase.
- Fans of contemporary New York stories: The film relocates Kurosawa’s premise into a modern New York and music-business context.
- Film-history enthusiasts: Watching it alongside Kurosawa’s High and Low offers a direct comparison between a 1963 Japanese crime film and a present-day American reinterpretation.
- Music collectors: A24’s official 2XLP soundtrack gives the film a relevant physical companion, subject to availability.
Before you press play
- In the United States, look for the movie in the Apple TV app and confirm the subscription terms shown on Apple’s current listing.
- Allow 2 hours 13 minutes for the feature.
- Expect an R-rated film with language throughout and brief drug use.
- You do not need to watch Kurosawa’s High and Low first.
- If you plan a comparison double feature, treat Criterion’s edition as the original film’s release, not as a disc edition of Spike Lee’s movie.
- Streaming rights, regional availability, subscription prices, trial terms, merchandise stock, and product prices may change after the date checked above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Highest 2 Lowest?
As of August 11, 2026, Highest 2 Lowest is available in the United States through the Apple TV app with an Apple TV subscription. Apple’s listing displays a seven-day trial and $12.99 monthly price, but those terms can change.
Is Highest 2 Lowest a remake of High and Low?
Yes. It is Spike Lee’s modern New York reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller High and Low, which was based on Ed McBain’s novel King’s Ransom.
Is there a Blu-ray or 4K disc of Highest 2 Lowest?
No. The two films are separate releases. Criterion lists 4K UHD/Blu-ray and Blu-ray editions of Kurosawa’s original, while the new film’s current viewing path is Apple TV in the United States.
Best Value
- 4K streaming made simple:With America’s number 1 TV streaming platform,* exploring popular apps—plus tons of free movies, shows, and live TV—is as easy as it is fun. *Based on hours streamed—Hypothesis Group
- 4K picture quality: With Roku Streaming Stick Plus, watch your favorites with brilliant 4K picture and vivid HDR color.
- Compact without compromises: Our sleek design won’t block neighboring HDMI ports, and it even powers from your TV alone, plugging into the back and staying out of sight. No wall outlet, no extra cords, no clutter.
- No more juggling remotes: Power up your TV, adjust the volume, and control your Roku device with one remote. Use your voice to quickly search, play entertainment, and more.
- Shows on the go: Take your TV to-go when traveling—without needing to log into someone else’s device.
Does Highest 2 Lowest have an official soundtrack vinyl release?
Yes. A24 lists an official 2XLP platinum-vinyl soundtrack featuring songs associated with A$AP Rocky, Jensen McRae, Aiyana-Lee, and Eddie Palmieri, plus original score material by Howard Drossin featuring the Fergus McCreadie Trio.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Highest 2 Lowest is currently available to U.S. subscribers through the Apple TV app. Watch it as a Spike Lee–Denzel Washington crime thriller first, then pair it with Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low to see how the kidnapping premise changes when moved from 1960s Japan and industry to modern New York and the music business.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
