'Highest 2 Lowest': Spike Lee Surprises Denzel Washington with Career-Defining Award at Cannes
Denzel Washington received a surprise at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival when he was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or during the world premiere of Spike Lee’s latest film, Highest 2 Lowest.
This marked Denzel Washington’s first Cannes appearance in his 50-year acting career, making the moment even more historic. Before the screening, festival director Thierry Fremaux showcased a montage of Washington’s iconic films — including Malcolm X, Mo' Better Blues, and his Oscar-winning roles in Glory and Training Day .
Spike Lee then took the stage to present Washington with the honorary Palme d’Or, calling him “my brother from another mother.” Lee was on stage for this special moment and handed over the trophy, emphasizing their long-standing collaboration. Washington admitted that receiving this honor was a complete surprise.
Directed by Lee, Highest 2 Lowest is a modern remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film High and Low, set in contemporary New York. Washington stars as a music mogul caught in a life-or-death ransom plot. The film features rapper A$AP Rocky as Yung Felon, an aspiring artist determined to succeed at any cost. Alongside Washington and Rocky, the cast includes Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice (in her film debut), Dean Winters, and others. This marks their fifth collaboration; Lee earlier joked about being glad they got five films together.
The movie hits theaters August 22 and streams on Apple TV+ starting September 5.
