HI-FIVE (2025) – Five Strangers. One Shot at Redemption.

Five strangers. One crash. A thousand chances to begin again.

HI-FIVE (2025) is a smart, stylish ensemble dramedy that weaves five strangers’ lives into one unforgettable night of chaos, connection, and second chances. Set in Los Angeles over the course of 24 hours, the film uses a single twist of fate—a car crash at a busy intersection—to launch a chain of interwoven stories that explore forgiveness, risk, and the human need for connection. Think Crash meets The Breakfast Club, with a splash of Everything Everywhere All At Once energy.

The story kicks off when a rideshare driver, a struggling actress, a war vet, a tech CEO, and a runaway teen all find themselves in the same diner after a freak blackout strands them downtown. As tensions rise and secrets unravel, the five begin to realize their lives are connected in ways they never imagined. But what starts as coincidence slowly turns into catharsis—each character given a mirror, a choice, and a chance to either run or finally show up.

Directed by Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You), HI-FIVE is visually inventive and packed with kinetic editing, breaking the fourth wall, flashbacks, and alternate versions of scenes to show how every tiny choice ripples outward. Despite the wildly different backgrounds of the characters, the film never feels preachy—it’s raw, funny, and grounded in the idea that sometimes, the people we least expect end up being exactly who we need.

Each member of the cast gets their moment to shine. Lakeith Stanfield plays the quietly simmering vet with a past. Ayo Edebiri is the chaotic, hilarious actress stuck in an existential tailspin. Justice Smith delivers emotional depth as a Silicon Valley dropout rethinking his life. Rounding out the group is an electric performance by newcomer Kayla Scott as the runaway with more wisdom than anyone gives her credit for.

HI-FIVE doesn’t aim for epic scale—it aims for honest emotion. In a world that feels increasingly disconnected, it reminds us that healing often begins in the most unlikely collisions.