Spike Lee’s ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Premieres at Cannes to Strong Applause and Honors for Denzel Washington

Spike Lee premiered his latest film *Highest 2 Lowest* at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, receiving a six-minute standing ovation. The crime thriller, inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s *High and Low*, stars Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky, and Ilfenesh Hadera. Set in modern-day New York, the story reimagines Kurosawa’s original plot, with Washington portraying a music mogul caught in a high-stakes kidnapping case. The film is a collaboration between Apple and A24 and marks the first reunion between Lee and Washington since *Inside Man* in 2006. It also follows their earlier works such as *Malcolm X* and *He Got Game*. During the festival, Denzel Washington received a surprise honorary Palme d’Or in recognition of his contributions to cinema. *Highest 2 Lowest* will be released in select theaters on August 22 and arrive on Apple TV+ on September 5. The film was not initially listed in the Cannes Official Selection due to uncertainty around Washington’s attendance. Other notable moments included Rihanna supporting A$AP Rocky at the premiere and reactions from fellow actor Daniel Kaluuya. This marks Spike Lee’s sixth Cannes appearance and the 36th anniversary of his debut there with *Do the Right Thing*.