Denzel Washington’s New Streaming Movie Is the Most Watched Movie on Any Service Right Now

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Denzel Washington and Spike Lee are a powerful team, having worked together on five films so far. From the biography of Malcolm X to thrilling heist movies, audiences consistently praise their collaborations. Their latest project, *Highest 2 Lowest*, which updates the classic film *High and Low*, stars Washington as a music executive whose son appears to be kidnapped. The film received good reviews after its release earlier this year, continuing a long history of positive reception for Washington and Lee’s work, and has attracted a large audience as a result.

The movie *Highest 2 Lowest* was the most-watched film on streaming platforms for the week of September 4th to 10th, according to data from Reelgood. It landed in the top three overall, behind the TV series *The Paper* and *Wednesday*. On another streaming tracker, FlixPatrol, *Highest 2 Lowest* is significantly more popular than other titles on Apple TV+, earning a score of 1,000 – far ahead of the second-place film, *The Gorge*, which scored 691.

Should Highest 2 Lowest Have Gotten a Wider Theatrical Release?

Before debuting on Apple TV+ on September 5th, *Highest 2 Lowest* had a small run in movie theaters, earning only $1.5 million in the US from 100 theaters. This limited release was likely intended to make the film eligible for awards, but it was a risky move considering the talent involved. Now that *Highest 2 Lowest* is getting good reviews and proving popular on streaming, it makes you wonder if Apple should have released it in more theaters.

Spike Lee isn’t known for blockbuster hits, but he’s a respected figure in the film world with a dedicated fanbase. His 2018 film, *BlacKkKlansman*, earned $93.5 million worldwide, and his previous collaboration with Denzel Washington, 2006’s *Inside Man*, remains his highest-grossing film at $184.4 million. While these numbers aren’t huge, they show Lee can attract a solid audience to a moderately-budgeted movie. Washington also continues to be a draw, as evidenced by the $191.1 million earned by *The Equalizer 3* in 2023. The popularity of *Highest 2 Lowest* on streaming suggests it could have performed similarly with a wider release.

That reasoning isn’t quite right. Streaming services make it easier for people to watch movies they might not otherwise see in theaters. We’ve seen many films that didn’t do well in theaters become popular on streaming platforms. There’s a big difference between watching a new movie like a Denzel Washington film at home for free and making a special trip to the cinema. The pandemic significantly changed how people watch movies, and it’s now harder for moderately budgeted films like *Highest 2 Lowest* to succeed at the box office. It’s doubtful that everyone who streamed *Highest 2 Lowest* on Apple TV+ during its first week would have gone to a theater to see it. That likely hurt the film’s potential box office earnings.

A new movie directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington should have been a major theatrical release, and likely would have succeeded in the past. However, Apple’s current release strategy reflects how the film industry is changing, and it’s a sensible approach. While definitely worth seeing, *Highest 2 Lowest* isn’t like Apple’s *F1*, which was designed for a big-screen, immersive experience and proved to be a box office hit. *Highest 2 Lowest* focuses more on strong acting and character development than spectacular action, though it still has some exciting moments. Apple likely made the correct decision by giving it a smaller release.

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2025-09-17 16:11