Genre : Crime / Thriller / Mystery / Drama

Runtime : 2hr 13min

Language : English

IMDb : 6.5 / 10

Rotten Tomatoes : 89%

Letterboxd : 2.9/5

Metacritic : 74%

Wikipedia : Link

Director : Spike Lee

Cast

Todd Black, Jason Michael Berman

Plot

David King (Denzel Washington) is a powerful and well-known figure in the music industry—a titan with a reputation for having “the best ears in the business.” At a pivotal moment, King aims to regain control of his record label by buying back shares and solidifying his legacy. However, his plans are abruptly derailed when his son Trey goes missing. A ransom demand of $17.5 million is made. The tension escalates when Trey is found unharmed, only for the true victim to be revealed: Kyle, the son of King’s chauffeur, Paul (Jeffrey Wright), mistakenly abducted instead of Trey. Caught between guilt, public scrutiny, and professional ambition, King must make impossible choices. The film explores his moral dilemma: should he protect his empire or sacrifice everything to save a child not his own? As police, media pressure, and personal relationships intensify, King is forced to confront what kind of man he really is—one whose power might be impressive, but whose conscience is under the greatest test. Set against the gritty, vibrant backdrop of New York City, the story weaves themes of inequality, privilege, loyalty, and ethical cost.