Highest 2 Lowest hits theaters

An editorial look at how a decades-long development saga brought a Spike Lee Denzel Washington collaboration to life.

Highest 2 Lowest finally hits theaters after 35 years

The film Highest 2 Lowest marks a rare reunion between Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, years after attempts to remake Kurosawa's High and Low. The project began in 1990 with David Mamet writing drafts and a string of directors attached, before Disney's Touchstone and Miramax labels shelved the idea while development costs rose to about 10 million. In 2019, producer Jason Michael Berman seized the opportunity, securing rights after a long negotiation with the Kurosawa estate and hiring Alan Fox to adapt the concept as a New York music world story. Washington agreed to the project after reading Fox’s script and Lee signed on, with Apple TV+ set to stream the film on Sept 5 following a Cannes premiere that drew strong reviews. Rotten Tomatoes tallies a 91 percent critic score.

The journey shows how a big idea can survive years of rewrites, leadership changes, and complex rights deals. A24 backed Fox’s take, and the evolving Hollywood landscape—where streaming windows and prestige projects intersect—helped turn a stalled remake into a contemporary drama about legacy, talent, and the attention economy.

This is more than a backstory. It illustrates how a potentially risky remake can become a cultural asset when talent, timing, and a fresh angle align. Fox’s pivot to late-stage capitalism and a generational conflict in the music world gives the story a modern edge without losing Kurosawa’s core tension. The project’s path also reflects a shift in how studios manage legacy properties, using new writing and strategic partners like A24 to de-risk a high-budget gamble. Yet the baggage—past collaborators facing scrutiny and a long development curve—means the film will still be measured against expectations set decades ago.

Highlights

The film’s outcome may shift how studios approach long-simmering projects