Brown & Black
Brown & Black
Jack Rico, Mike Sargent
Spike Lee, Denzel, and the Black Film Marketing Problem
35 minutes Posted Aug 11, 2025 at 1:14 pm.
0:00
35:01
Download MP3
Show notes

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, two of Hollywood's biggest stars, reunite for A24's Highest 2 Lowest (in theaters August 15). But you wouldn't know it from the marketing.

Its low-profile rollout has people asking: is this racism or just business? And will the burden of promoting the film fall once again on Black moviegoers?

Episode Summary:
• Is undermarketing Black films racism or just business?
• Did Spike and Denzel agreed to this deal?
• The long history of under-promoted Black films
• Black films that did get a marketing push
• The problem with "we support our own"
• Denzel's big payday vs. the film's performance
• Why Brad Pitt and George Clooney chose streaming
• Black audiences carrying films to box office success

🎧 Listen to 'Brown & Black'
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/47JgORF
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/32hShVT

📢 Follow us on Substack:
https://www.brownblackpodcast.com

📱 Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/brownblackpodcast
https://www.instagram.com/jackrico
https://www.instagram.com/iammikeonscreen