Early reactions to Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest are in, with critics highlighting Denzel Washington's performance. Premiering at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, the neo-noir crime thriller is an English-language reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film High and Low, loosely based on Ed McBain's novel, King's Ransom. Washington stars as a musical mogul entangled in a ransom plot.

The early reviews for Lee's new thriller are in, with many praising the director's unique approach and modern reinterpretation of an otherwise bleak film. Washington's portrayal of David King has been hailed by many as one of the actor's best works. Check out some of the responses below:

@ThePlaylistNews declares that Highest 2 Lowest "brings out the best in Denzel Washington."

Barry Hertz at The Globe and Mail teased the movie as "a fantastic mess" and a "thunderous confrontation" between Washington and rapper A$AP Rocky.

David Ehrlich of IndieWire praises Lee's delivery as a "jarringly fun" reinterpretation, with King being Washington's "most commanding screen performance."

Deadline is impressed by Washington's fifth collaboration with Lee, but voices louder praise for A$AP Rocky.

The Hollywood Reporter teases in their review that one scene features Washington and his antagonist in a hilarious rap battle in the new "dazzling thriller" packed with "great music."

@NathanFrancis of The Guardian notes the actor's "magnificent form" in his new role, set in the music industry, with a plot that explores his morals when finding out that the kidnapper has mistakenly taken his godson instead of his own child.

While the film has generally received compliments, The Independent, on the other hand, was less impressed by Washington's performance, calling it "one-note."

What The Early Reactions Mean For Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest

Highest 2 Lowest Finds Washington In A Moral Dilemma

Spike Lee has taken a lot of creative freedom when reimagining the world and story in High and Low. The result is an entertaining neo-thriller that reflects its title, Highest 2 Lowest. The story places David King in a complicated moral dilemma as the situation evolves from his own son's abduction to his godson's. As long-time collaborators who have worked together to deliver classics and critically acclaimed movies such as Malcolm X and Inside Man, the movie reflects the high quality of their work, according to most reviews.

Apple TV+'s trailer for Highest 2 Lowest offers a glimpse of the new thriller and its upbeat tone, coming to theaters on August 22 and the streaming platform on September 5. With a rhythmic feel, the trailer teases the movie's unique pacing and Washington's titular music producer without giving too much away.

Our Take On Highest 2 Lowest

Another Great Movie From Spike Lee And Denzel Washington

Highest 2 Lowest tells a serious story with a jarringly upbeat tone, which itself is a challenge, but based on the early reviews, it seems that Spike Lee has found the perfect balance for the unique project. While the original High and Low explores a post-war class struggle and societal decay, the latest collaboration between Lee and Washington leans more into the discussion of morality.

Denzel Washington has a talent for playing morally complex characters. Known for his range and versatility, morally gray characters like Tobin Frost in Safe House and Joe Beacon in The Little Things are where the actor shines. After last year's Gladiator II, where he played a villain, Highest 2 Lowest finds him in a more nuanced role, as David King isn't really a villain, but a man with flaws.

Sources: Deadline, IndieWire, Barry Hertz, The Playlist, The Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian, The Independent/X