Denzel Washington got a career-defining surprise at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival when he was awarded an honorary Palme d’Or at the world premiere of his latest film, Spike Lee‘s “Highest 2 Lowest.” The two-time Oscar winner was already having a historic festival, considering this is the first time Washington has attended Cannes in his 50-year acting career.
Ahead of the screening of Lee’s latest movie, Cannes festival director Thierry Fremaux introduced a montage of Washington’s films — including “Malcolm X” and “Mo Better Blues,” both directed by Lee — as well as his Oscar-winning performances in “Glory” and “Training Day.” Lee then presented the actor-director with the honorary Palme d’Or.
Lee was on stage for the special moment and handed off the Palme d’O trophy to Denzel while calling the actor “my brother from another mother.” Washington said that the honor was a complete surprise.
Directed by Lee, “Highest 2 Lowest” is an English-language remake of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 film “High and Low.” Lee’s reimagining is set in modern day New York and stars Washington as a music mogul tied up in a life-or-death ransom plot. Superstar rapper A$AP Rocky appears as Yung Felon, an aspiring rapper who will stop at nothing to achieve his dream. Alongside Washington and Rocky, “Highest 2 Lowest” features Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice (in her film debut), Dean Winters, John Douglas Thompson, LaChanze, Aubrey Joseph, Michael Potts and Wendell Pierce.
The film marks the fifth collaboration between Lee and Washington. “I’m just glad we got five in,” Lee said at the Red Sea Film Festival earlier this year, referring to his work with Washington.
“Highest 2 Lowest” will be released in theaters August 22 and stream on Apple TV+ starting Sept. 5.
